Archive

  • Ameobi keeps Magpies on Europa League track

    Shola Ameobi's 14th European goal kept Newcastle's Europa League campaign on track on an eventful evening against Club Brugge. The 31-year-old struck from younger brother Sammy's 43rd-minute pass two minutes after Vurnon Anita had dispatched a sweet

  • Dozens 'sleep out' for charity

    DEVOTED charity supporters gave up their beds for the night to raise money for a good cause. Dozens of people slept out at East Durham College’s Houghall campus, near Durham City, to raise money for Centrepoint, a charity which works with homeless

  • Out of Africa - Bee-eater spotted in Sunderland

    MORE used to much warmer climes, a Bee-eater has been spotted in Sunderland. The bird is normally found in North Africa or Southern Europe, but has moved into the Fulwell area of the city. It is the second rare bird to be seen in the area recently

  • Challenges facing the new Archbishop

    THE Right Reverend Justin Welby will have his work cut out if, as widely expected, he is named the new Archbishop of Canterbury tomorrow (November 9). He takes over a Church which feels battle weary and tired, after fierce rows over women bishops

  • Body of County Durham soldier and colleague repatriated

    THE families of two Gurkhas, one from County Durham, who were killed by a man wearing an Afghan police uniform sobbed as their bodies were repatriated to the UK today (Thursday, November 8). Lieutenant Edward Drummond-Baxter, from Consett, and

  • Job losses at Flymo factory

    THE maker of Flymo lawn mowers is set to axe about 40 skilled North-East workers as part of a bid to slash costs.   The proposed closure of Husqvarna's research and development department at Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham

  • All change for Newcastle in Brugge

    NEWCASTLE United boss Alan Pardew has made eight changes to his side for tonight's Europa League group game against Club Brugge. Tim Krul, Fabricio Coloccini and Vurnon Anita are the only players to survive from the team that started Sunday's 1

  • Drivers escape injury in Heighington collision

    TWO drivers escaped injury after a two vehicle collision in Heighington, near Darlington, this afternoon (Thursday, November 8). A Land Rover and Vauxhall Astra collided on the B6444 Heighington Lane around 3.35pm. Police confirmed neither driver required

  • News in brief

    PROFITS DOWN: Dairy Crest, which was the subject of angry farmers’ protests summer, reported a 16 per cent drop in profits today (November 8), despite strong sales of well-known supermarket brands Cathedral City and Clover. Its dairies business

  • Crowds flock to opening of new Newton Aycliffe supermarket

    THE transformation of Newton Aycliffe town centre took a major step forward today (Thursday, November 8) with the opening of a new low cost supermarket. Bargain hunters were queuing from 7.30am, for the opening of Aldi on Greenwell Road, which

  • North Durham News in Brief

    A planning application has been submitted to Durham County Council seeking permission to change the use of a piece of land next to 41 Carrowmore Road, Chester-le-Street, from public open space to private garden use. Consideration is pending. PACT

  • Catterick-based Garrison Radio to close

    THE founder of a radio station based at Europe’s biggest Army base has criticised the Ministry of Defence (MoD) after announcing the station is to shut down. Garrison Radio will close in March next year following the MoD's decision to award a contract

  • Foster carer rewarded for dedication

    A DARLINGTON foster carer has received recognition for her ten years of service. Deb Blewitt, 52, who works with Foster Care Associates (FCA), was presented with her award at an event celebrating the hard work, dedication and achievements of foster

  • York Racecourse Christmas fair

    LUXURY FAIR: Essence of Christmas, a three-day Christmas fair, will take place at York Racecourse from Friday, November 16 until Sunday, November 18, featuring more than 200 exhibitors. There will be gift retailers, designers, crafts people, health

  • Cleveland Police seize £1.5 million drugs bound for Teesside

    ALMOST £1.5 million worth of drugs destined for the North-East have been seized by police. Officers from Cleveland Police stopped three Teesside men in Halifax, West Yorkshire yesterday (Wednesday, November 7). The men, on their way from Manchester

  • Students get acting masterclass from Blood Brothers star

    DRAMA students have enjoyed an acting masterclass led by one of the stars of a touring theatre production. Daniel Taylor, currently starring as Sammy in Blood Brothers at Darlington Civic Theatre, visited Hummersknott Academy, in Darlington, to

  • Young engineers bridge the gap

    CIVIL engineering is bridging the gap in young people’s knowledge of the sector with a challenge to students aged 10 to 18 to construct a replica of the Severn crossing. The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), working alongside Foundation for

  • Children help mugged woman

    A TEN-YEAR-OLD and a 14-year-old rushed to the aid of a woman who was mugged on Monday. The two young boys raised the alarm after finding the injured woman, who had been robbed in an alleyway in Middlesbrough. The 48-year-old had entered the

  • Prince's Trust team members cycle from Stanley to Sunderland

    MEMBERS of a Prince’s Trust team today (Thursday November 8) cycled 15 miles to raise cash for an animal rescue centre. Several young people, as well team leaders, from the programme being run in Stanley cycled from the town to the Roker Pier in

  • Market town volunteers needed to help young homeless

    AN emergency accommodation scheme for vulnerable young people is in need of volunteers in a market town. The charity Sash offers help to 16 to 24-year-olds who have nowhere safe to stay at night. Under its Nightstop scheme, volunteers provide

  • Children create new storybook

    SCHOOL pupils who contributed to an epic new storybook are getting sight of the finished work for the first time. Nearly 300 children from ten year five and six classes at primary schools across Durham City each put forward one chapter for inclusion

  • Arrests after police chase

    POLICE CHASE: Following a high-speed police chase through Norton on Monday October 29, a 17-year-old was charged with a number of offences including aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and criminal damage. He was also charged with a separate

  • Olympic shambles firm loses contract to run prison

    THE FIRM at the centre of the Olympics security shambles has lost its contract to run a jail and failed to win any further prison contracts it was bidding for, the Ministry of Justice has said. G4S, which failed to provide enough guards for the

  • Suspected bike thief found hiding in river

    A SUSPECTED quad-bike thief was caught by police hiding in a Yorkshire Dales river. Two people from Darlington were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning following the theft of bikes from the Reeth area. Police were alerted to thefts

  • Police hunt York flasher

    A FLASHER targeted a teenager as she walked along a street in the middle of the afternoon. Police are asking the public for information after the indecent exposure in York. The 17-year-old had been walking down Main Street from Top Lane in Copmanthorpe

  • Teenager arrested following spree of vandalism

    AN 18-YEAR-OLD has been charged in connection with a vandalism spree which left several cars damaged. Windows wer smashed, tyres slashed and wing mirrors broken on the vehicles in the Eston and Normanby areas of Middlesbrough last weekend.

  • Chance to name railway painting

    YOUNG train enthusiasts are invited to name a new painting set to go on display at a railway museum. The painting, showing the Locomotion No 1 exhibit at the Head of Steam museum, in Darlington, is by Durham-based artist Steven Fox. He was

  • Facebook get rich scam claims at least 20 victims, police say

    A FACEBOOK scam has claimed more than 20 victims in Middlesbrough alone, police have warned. Victims are messaged on the social networking site and informed they can earn money quickly. The messages appear to be from someone on the user’s friends

  • Darlington's volunteering stalwarts honoured

    STALWARTS of Darlington’s volunteering community were rewarded for their dedication at a glittering awards ceremony. The eVOLution Excellence Awards were held at the Kings Head Hotel tonight (Thursday, November 8) and saw a host of groups and individuals

  • Asylum seeker claimed he had been shot, court told

    AN ASYLUM seeker sparked a major police response after calling 999 last month and pretending he was a doctor who had been shot, a court heard. Ambulance crews and nine police units, including the force’s helicopter and dog unit, were dispatched

  • Charity coffers boosted by donations

    GENEROUS customers at a Darlington news stand have helped swell the coffers of a charity that supports blind and partially-sighted people. Market News, in the Covered Market, in Darlington town centre, has collected £500 for the Guide Dogs charity

  • Blood spatter was result of frenzied attack, court hears

    A FORENSIC scientist tells a jury how blood patterns in a pensioner's home were the result of repeated blows to the head and face. Gillian O'Boyle took samples of blood from Colin Dunford's Middlesbrough home, including a piece of carpet which

  • Charity wants to hear your opinion on heart disease services

    HEART SURVEY: People with heart disease in the North-East are being asked to give their views about local NHS services by taking part in a survey. The British Heart Foundation’s online Heart Watch survey is the first of its kind to ask heart patients

  • Veterans hold special service in Sedgefield

    VETERAN SERVICE: Sedgefield Village Veterans are holding a remembrance service outside the old St Luke’s Church, now Winterton Park Spa and Leisure, at Winterton, Sedgefield, at 9.45am tomorrow (Friday, November 9).

  • Labour campaign headquarters opened in Middlesbrough

    CAMPAIGN headquarters for Labour’s candidate in the up-coming Middlesbrough by-election were opened yesterday (Wednesday, November 7). The Labour Party’s General Secretary Iain McNicol visited the town to officially open the campaign office of

  • Have your say on Great Aycliffe and Middridge issues at forum

    GREAT Aycliffe and Middridge Area Action Partnership is holding a forum at Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre at 6pm on Tuesday, November 20. It is an opportunity for anyone who lives, works, volunteers or studies in the area to find out about key issues

  • Latest cases from Darlington Magistrates' Court

    THE following cases were heard today (November 8) at Darlington Magistrates' Court: ALLEGED WOUNDING: Garry Donald, 19, of Epsom Court, Red Hall, Darlington, entered no plea to a charge of wounding. The allegation follows an incident in Tubwell

  • Farmers rewarded for helping partridge population

    TWO farmers who helped dwindling wild partridge numbers through a devastating year for the birds, have had their efforts rewarded. Peter Dowson and his son Phil, who both farm at Eppleby near Richmond, North Yorkshire did everything they could

  • Gun salute to mark royal birthday

    A 21-GUN salute by the Yorkshire Gunners will mark Prince Charles’ 64th birthday next week. On Wednesday (November 14) a military parade will march from Duncombe Place, near York Minster, to the Museum Gardens where, on the stroke of noon, gunfire

  • Sports presentation evening

    Danby Sports Association will be holding its annual presentation evening from 6.30pm on Saturday, November 10 in Danby village hall. There will be a two-course buffet dinner with games, raffle, auction, dancing and presentations. Tickets are £15 for

  • Police offer anti-terrorist advice to delivery drivers

    COUNTER-TERRORISM advice will be issued to delivery drivers working throughout Teesside. Cleveland Police have produced an ‘Aide Memoir for Terrorism’ which will be given to HGV drivers in order to help them remain vigilant in emergency situations

  • Mayor's invitation for a cuppa

    THE Mayor of Chilton, Coun Elizabeth Bruce, is inviting residents to join her for a cuppa when she hosts a charity coffee morning. It will be held in the lounge at Chilton Workingmen’s Club, on Thursday, November 29, from 10am to noon. Refreshments

  • Students travel to Auschwitz

    STUDENTS who travelled to Auschwitz have spoken of their moving experience. Around 150 students from the North-East travelled to the site of the Nazi concentration camp on Wednesday in a visit organised by the Holocaust Education Trust. Prior

  • Middlesbrough fans complaints vindicated by IPCC

    A BORO fan has been vindicated in a complaint against West Yorkshire Police. Mark Appleton, a commercial manager from Marton, Middlesbrough, had his key grievances upheld by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). The 30-year-old

  • Woman blows thousands on grandfather's credit cards

    A YOUNG woman who stole her grandfather’s credit cards to escape a loan shark went on to blow thousands on holidays and nights out. A court heard that Amy Louise Barnett, of Bridge Road, Eston, sank into debt after borrowing money from pay-day

  • Concert on eve of brass contest

    The Leyland Band, conducted by Richard Evans, is to perform a concert in the Salvation Army Hall, in Sherburn Terrace, Consett on Saturday, November 17 at 7.30pm. The concert takes place on the eve of the Brass In Concert Championships, to be held

  • Masterplan drawn up for town

    A MASTERPLAN to improve a town’s economic fortunes is to go before councillors next week. A blueprint for the development of Chester-le-Street will be discussed by Durham County Council’s cabinet Among the proposals being considered to revitalise

  • Young driver escapes jail for taking car home after drinking

    AN UNLICENSED driver “persuaded” his girlfriend to allow him to take her father’s car home after drinking one night. Despite her protests, she finally relented, as Brett Maughan promised to bring the car back the following day. Durham Crown

  • Amusement arcade fraud

    POLICE are looking for a group of fraudsters who managed to make an arcade machine pay out hundreds of pounds. The two men and one woman, aged from their late teens to early thirties, were seen on CCTV using a device to make the cash hoppers in

  • Bright future for firewood firm

    TWO entrepreneurs have found a way to capitalise on the plunging temperatures and rising power prices to start a new business selling logs and firewood to customers across the North East. Dave Scaman and Gary Walker, who have been friends for more

  • Highways jobs axed despite public backing

    A COUNCIL is cutting 40 jobs from its highways team on the cusp of winter, despite taxpayers having identified roads and maintenance as their top priority for spending. In a major public consultation exercise, residents of County Durham said highways

  • Staff evacuated after Cockerton chip shop fire

    FRIGHTENED staff and diners had to be evacuated from a fish and chip cafe after fire swept through its kitchen area. Smoke could be seen billowing out of Cockerton Fisheries on Cockerton Green at about 12.20pm today and three fire engines and an

  • Festive church fundraiser

    A CHURCH will hold a Christmas fair to boost its coffers. The event at South Church Methodist Church, on Priory Grove, Bishop Auckland, will by opened by Durham County Councillor Dorothy Burn on Saturday November 17, at 2.30pm. Admission is

  • Church seminars

    A MONTH of seminars exploring the prophecies of the Book of Daniel starts at the Darlington Seventh-day Adventist Church on November 23. The church, on Hird Street, will present the 'Unsealing Daniel's Mysteries’ seminars with Polish subtitles.

  • Bishop Auckland man killed in crash

    A BISHOP AUCKLAND man has died after suffering serious injuries in a crash last night. The man, in his 20s, died when his car collided with a van near Bishop Auckland in County Durham yesterday. The crash took place at 5.15pm on the northbound

  • TOWIE star in Darlington

    SAM Faiers of The Only Way is Essex fame will be signing copies of her new book in Darlington’s WHSmith on Saturday (November 10). She will be at the store in the Cornmill shopping centre from 3pm to sign copies of ‘Living Life the Essex Way’ which

  • Live News: November 8, 2012 (James Allen Murder Trial)

    3:41pm NEWCASTLE UNITED: Thousands of Newcastle United supporters are congregating in Brugge's main city square ahead of this evening's Europa League game between the Magpies and Club Brugge. With up to 5,000 Newcastle

  • Computer recycling firm secures six-figure investment

    A COMPUTING firm which recycles and resells hardware is set to expand its presence in global markets after securing a six-figure investment. North-East based RefurbThat.com buys and refurbishes bulk lots of computing equipment, adding more than

  • Durham Prison to remain in public sector

    DURHAM Prison will remain in the public sector, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling announced today. However, HMP Northumberland (an amalgamation of the former HMPs Castington and Acklington) and the South Yorkshire group of Moorland, Hatfield and

  • Meyler moves to Hull on loan

    Sunderland midfielder David Meyler has teamed up with former manager Steve Bruce at Hull City after joining on loan for the rest of the year. The 23-year-old will also rejoin Black Cats teammate Ahmed Elmohamady, who is also on loan with the Tigers

  • Leadbitter hails Woodgate and Boro's leaders

    WITH the potential to go top of the Championship tomorrow night, Middlesbrough’s squad has been described as having the leaders required to maintain the push for promotion by stand-in skipper Grant Leadbitter. Leadbitter was at the hub of the Boro

  • Match Report: Hartlepool United 0 Tranmere Rovers 2

    Final Score: Hartlepool United 0 Tranmere Rovers 2 ANOTHER game passed Hartlepool United by last night; how much longer can they go before a new manager is appointed to halt the rot. Defeat to Tranmere at Victoria Park was Pools’ 15th game

  • Brugge affected by managerial upheaval

    CLUB Brugge caretaker manager Phillipe Clement admits the club's players are still coming to terms with the surprise departure of former boss Georges Leekens last weekend. Leekens was dismissed after Brugge suffered their fifth defeat in a row

  • Pardew: Xisco still has a Newcastle future

    ALAN Pardew claims Xisco still has a future at Newcastle United after the Spanish misfit was handed a surprise promotion to the squad for this evening's Europa League game at Club Brugge. Xisco was part of the 20-man party that flew to Belgium

  • Gray leaves Darlington and heads for West

    Phil Gray has left Darlington and joined West Auckland in time for Saturday's meeting between the sides. The left-back was Quakers' last remaining member of the squad that won the FA Trophy at Wembley in May last year. Gray, 20, was an unused substitute

  • £75,000 Darlington benefits cheat jailed for seven-year con

    A JUDGE issued a chilling warning to benefits cheats as he jailed a grandmother for more than two years for sponging £75,000 from taxpayers. Andrea Blakeburn repeatedly told officials from the council and the Department for Work and Pensions that

  • Scott Wilson's Postcard from Brugge

    ANYONE who has seen the film 'In Bruges' will know all about the Gothic beauty of the city Newcastle United are visiting this week. Brugge's entire city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has remained largely unchanged for the best part

  • Tiote vows to clean up his act

    CHEIK Tiote has vowed to improve his dreadful disciplinary record as he prepares to return to action in this evening's Europa League tie in Brugge. The Newcastle United midfielder is currently two thirds of the way through a three-match domestic

  • Man warned to expect jail for stun gun collection

    A STORE warehouseman was told to expect a lengthy prison sentence after admitting possessing six prohibited stun guns. Police recovered the weapons from Robert Downes’ home at Eden Close, Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, following a tip-off, on August

  • CBI calls for industrial strategy to boost exports by £30bn

    BACKING growth industries could boost exports by £30bn, according to a CBI report published today (Thursday). By maximising the strengths in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, green technology and the creative industries, CBI analysis indicates

  • Pupils learn new theatre skills

    PUPILS at a Bishop Auckland school have been testing their theatre skills in a special workshop. Maxwell Golden put on special solo show entitled Struggle at St John’s School and Sixth Form College, in Bishop Auckland, on Wednesday (November 7)

  • St Osmund's, Gainford, Remembrance Day arrangements

    REMEMBRANCE DAY: The congregation of St Osmund's Catholic Church, Gainford, will pay tribute to the fallen on Sunday, November 11. Events begin with a mass at 10am. At 10.40am, worshipers will meet outside St Osmund's ready for a procession to the

  • Man dies in fatal road collision

    A MAN has died after suffering serious injuries in a crash on a busy North-East road. Michael John Fell, of Toft Hill, near Bishop Auckland, was driving along the A68 at Etherley Bank, close to his home when he collided with a van at about 5.15pm

  • Former footballers to have a chat

    FOOTBALLERS TALK: Former footballers John Anderson and Gary Bennett will give a talk at Tow Law Football Club in Tow Law, County Durham, on Friday, November 23 at 8pm. Tickets cost £10 and include food on the night. CHRISTMAS LETTERS: Heel and

  • Boxes of gifts needed for impoverished children

    A CHURCH is making a final appeal for shoeboxes filled with gifts before they are sent off to impoverished children in Eastern Europe. The Wear Valley Christian Centre in Bishop Auckland has already collected more than 150 boxes to be shipped to

  • Cash boost for Teesdale singers

    A GROUP of singing students will be making music during a residential visit to Cambridge early in the new year after successfully securing funds to cover their costs. Teesdale School students Jemma Foster, Fiona Todd, Rachel Todd and Jenny Wilkinson

  • Farm Watch operation targets rural crime

    A HUGE Farm Watch operation involving more than 100 police and 140 volunteers was staged on Wednesday night (November 7). The operation covered about 3,300 square miles and involved officers from Durham, Cumbria, Northumberland and North Yorkshire

  • Catalytic converter stolen from vehicle parked in Evenwood

    A CATALYTIC converter was stolen from a yellow Ford Ranger parked in Evenwood. The theft took place between 5pm on Tuesday, October 30, and 7am on Friday, November 2. At the time, the vehicle was parked unattended on the edge of a grassed area