Final Score: Darlington 0 Spennymoor Town 0 DARLINGTON were left to rue not taking their chances to score as they were held at home by Spennymoor Town in last night’s top of the table clash. The game was much-anticipated and drew an attendance
Newton Aycliffe suffered a blow in their relegation fight when they were beaten 3-1 at home by Penrith last night. Newton Aycliffe had the better of the early chances in their game against Penrith, but they fell behind when Matthew Read scored
Darlington have named an unchanged team for this evening’s top-of-the-table clash with Spennymoor Town. The same XI that defeated Durham City 4-0 on Saturday are chosen again, but there are changes on the bench. New signings Jonny Davis and
A FACTORY worker who shook his girlfriend's baby son to death while she nipped out for teabags has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years today. (Wednesday, December 19) Richard Morgan killed 13-month-old Slater Sharkey out of frustration, but
All Saints and Salutation Church, in Blackwell, Darlington, is appealing for people to donate toys to a Salvation Army Christmas fund. Gifts can be taken to the church, in Ravensdale Road. Contact 01325-469891. CHURCH EVENTS: St Andrew's Church
An 11-year-old boy who was who was a passenger in a black Range Rover which crashed onto a railway line and hit the side of a freight train suffering serious injuries, remains in a critical but stable condition. Inquiries into the crash on the
Santa is making the last of his sleigh visits to Darlington neighbourhoods this week. He is visiting Whinfield this evening (Wednesday December, 19) and the Elton Road area tomorrow (Thursday, December 20) before a final stop off in High Row from
ADULT PANTO: Tickets are available for an adult-only pantomime at Spennymoor Settlement’s Everyman Theatre. Curtains rise for Aladin Trouble [correct spelling] at 7pm on Sunday, January 6. Doors open at 6.30pm. Tickets cost £6 and are available from
ONE of North Yorkshire’s best known figures has died at home the age of 87. Sir Marcus Worsley was a former MP and Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire and was also the brother of the Duchess of Kent. Educated at Eton College, he served with
A BRAVE teenager who lost a leg to cancer is to be featured on national television on Thursday (December 20). Kieran Maxwell, from Heighington, near Darlington, was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, which attacks bone tissue, in October 2010.
BLUES CONCERT: An American blues musician, who released his debut album at just 11-years-old, will take to the stage in County Durham next month. Eric Steckel and his band are performing at Sedgefield Rock and Blues Club in Sedgefield Parish Hall on
DARLINGTON band The Innocent Wrecks will make their debut in a New Year’s Eve show. The six-piece group, whose ages range from 13 to 16, were brought together as the winners of two showcast nights featuring performances from music students who are
TWO academics at York University have been awarded Philip Leverhulme Prizes by the Leverhulme Trust. The prizes, with a value of £70,000 each, have been awarded to Dr Jo Applin, in the department of history of art, and Dr Kirsty Penkman, in the
FESTIVE FILMS: All are invited to enjoy two family-friendly festive films this week on the Big Screen in Middlesbrough’s Centre Square starting with It’s A Wonderful Life tomorrow night (Thursday, December 20) at 6pm. The second film Polar Express
THE next Archbishop of Canterbury is to guest edit The Northern Echo on January 11. It had been expected the Right Reverend Justin Welby, currently the Bishop of Durham, would edit the paper on January 10. However, the date has been moved due
A WOMAN is believed to have taken a £20 note from the self-serve till in Asda, in Bishop Auckland, at about 8.20pm on Friday, October 26. A shopper had turned her back to request the attention of staff when the suspect is believed to have taken
FUNDRAISERS are preparing to scale the heights in memory of a County Durham climber who died in a tragic accident on Boxing Day 2010. Dave Church, of Shildon, perished after falling 80ft from a frozen waterfall while climbing on Howgill Fell, between
THE commitment and hard work of volunteers has been celebrated at a Christmas party and awards ceremony in Shildon Civic Hall. Organised by the Council for Voluntary Services for the borough of Sedgefield (Cavos), the ceremony saw awards presented
A JURY has been discharged in mid-trial in the case of a young man accused of an unprovoked attack on a householder outside his home. Josh Lumley denies wounding with intent and the alternative of unlawful wounding, following the incident in Stanley
Fraud, bribery and rate-rigging in the banking industry were laid bare today as Swiss bank UBS agreed a £940m settlement with regulators in another damning day for the sector. Britain's financial regulator said attempts at UBS to manipulate Libor
A POLICE force victimised a female officer who was asked if she wanted a pink gun and led towards a stash of pornographic magazines, a tribunal has ruled. The Central London Employment Tribunal found in favour of Miss M, whose name is withheld
A WILDLIFE trust says it has been bowled over by a fundraising appeal launched earlier this week. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust began its project at the weekend (Saturday, December 15) to pay for projects that will help improve habitats for Yorkshire
A NATIONAL Park Authority has reaffirmed its commitment to support the rollout of broadband to remote communities as soon as possible. Members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority are determined to help push for the service following
A COUNCIL is to remain without a permanent director of children’s services after a candidate turned down the vacancy. An interim director of children’s services at North Yorkshire County Council has had to be designated to fill the senior position
AN environmental initiative has launched a Facebook site to encourage people to get involved in its projects. The Northallerton Environmental Enhancement Initiative (NEEI) was set up this year to try and turn neglected spaces in the town into green
POLICE have renewed an appeal for witnesses to a road incident which left a mother of two needing hospital treatment. Caroline Douglas suffered severe bruising after being hit by a Toyota RAV4 while she was walking her dog in West Auckland Road
A DAD who attacked his daughter's boyfriend with a hammer after hearing she had been assaulted walked free from court yesterday. John Lee was told by a judge that he had misunderstood the situation because the couple had really done no more than
A COUNCIL is to remain without a permanent director of children’s services after a candidate turned down the vacancy. An interim director of children’s services at North Yorkshire County Council has had to be designated to fill the senior position
SHOPPERS at a patisserie shop have been commenting on its festive window display. Robineau Patisserie, in Darlington, has a display featuring a family of penguins – made out of 25kg of gingerbread and icing – frolicking in the snow. Owner Jane
A JUDGE has finally run out of patience with a repeat low-level thief and sneak burglar. Russell Emerson Dixon received a 32-week sentence in a young offenders’ institution, which was suspended for 18 months, in August, providing he complied with
NORTH Yorkshire County Council has sent a stark warning to the NHS, saying any cuts to services will be “totally unacceptable”. In a meeting at County Hall in Northallerton today (Wednesday, December 19), councillors of all political persuasions
THE family of a teaching assistant who died after being hit by a speeding lorry claimed a victory in their fight for justice tonight. John Thompson, whose 27-year-old son Jake died five days after being knocked down on a pedestrian crossing on
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after burglars raided homes in two North Yorkshire villages. Officers are also urging residents to be vigilant and make sure they have the necessary security arrangements in place to keep thieves out. One
A SECOND five-a-side football tournament for women is to be held following the success of a town’s first ever competition. A tournament organised by Hartlepool Council’s Sport and Recreation Service, took place at Grayfields recreation ground on
CARE HOME: Youngsters who took part in the National Citizenship Service scheme this summer visited Elderwood care home, in Westmoreland Street, Darlington, this week, to decorate part of the home for Christmas. It was the second time the home had been
A CHARITY that promotes the health and well-being of elderly people opened its doors to the public for a 1960s themed fun day. The event, at their Age UK’s Beaumont Street West premises, in Darlington, on Wednesday (December 19), included 1960s
A HOSPITAL trust has announced it is ending paper-based patient health records. County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has invested in an electronic system to document patients’ details, which will be rolled out next year. The system
POLICE are appealing for information after a teenage girl was raped at knifepoint in Newcastle. A police spokesman said the officers received a report that a 15-year-old girl had been robbed while walking in Elswick Road at 10:40pm yesterday.
DURHAM Cathedral’s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service is to be broadcast live. The Christmas Eve 3pm service is to be broadcast on digital radio and over the Internet by national station Premier Christian Radio. The traditional service
JAPANESE car maker Nissan’s announcement it will build its new luxury model in the North-East, creating hundreds of jobs, has been welcomed by the region. The decision to make the £35,000 Infiniti hatchback in Sunderland, signed off this week,
A19 CRASH: Two cars and a large heavy goods vehicle were involved in a crash on the A19 northbound between Borrrowby and Kirkby Sigston, North Yorkshire. The aciident happened at about 4.30pm (Wednesday, December 19) and the road is currently closed
A planning application has been submitted to Durham County Council seeking permission for a two-storey dwelling with detached double garage at Garden House. Flint Hill Dipton. Consideration is pending. PLANS RESUBMITTED: An application for outline
MOTHER and son, Heather and John Hebborn, have united for an exhibition at Greenfield Community and Arts Centre in Newton Aycliffe. The exhibition, which runs until January 3, features oil paintings, inspired by hikes in Weardale and the Lake District
A WILDLIFE charity has condemned the Government for its decision to drop proposals to protect Yorkshire Coast marine areas, after being warned that native species are threatened. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust said it was “bitterly disappointed by the
CHRISTMAS CONCERT: Influence Church in Richmond is holdings its Christmas concert on Sunday. (December 23). There will be a children's nativity, carols, candle light, mince pies and gifts for children under the age of ten. The concert starts
AN INQUEST has been opened into the death of a married father-of-three who was fatally injured after falling off a lorry. Robert Ismay, of Melbourne Place, Sowerby, died after being hit by scaffolding poles from his truck while delivering them
VETERANS of the Arctic Convoy are finally getting their bravery recognised after the government gave the go ahead for a new medal. David Cameron told the House of Commons he had accepted an expert review's recommendation that an Arctic Star medal
A CHARITY has brought some festive cheer to needy people by laying on a Christmas dinner. The Foundation charity, which works with homeless people, those at risk of homelessness and ex-offenders, staged a full Christmas lunch for 35 guests at Waddington
A MAN who took a car without its owner’s consent and caused it to overturn has appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe today (Wednesday, December 19). Scott Hilton, 25, of Oakfield, Newton Aycliffe, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking
OPENING HOURS: Festive opening hours for Hambleton’s four leisure centres have been announced. The centres – in Northallerton, Stokesley, Thirsk and Bedale - will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Years Day. And they will shut early
MAYOR of Middlesbrough Ray Mallon has said he wants to decline the Government offer of a special grant to freeze council tax. He made his comments at a meeting on Tuesday, December 18 where he outlined how Middlesbrough Council can make savings
AN ANIMAL protection charity has confirmed the 17 horses that escaped from a field in the Newton Aycliffe area this week are all in good health. Police received a call at around 9.50pm on Monday, December 17, reporting a large group of horses were
A MILITARY base that raised almost £230,000 for good causes in the past year has been honoured with a prestigious peace prize. RAF Leeming, near Bedale, beat off stiff competition from across the RAF to win the Firmin Sword of Peace Award.
A COUNTY Durham pair appeared before magistrates today (Wednesday, December 19) charged with stealing car keys and a car from a property in Ferryhill. Anthony Steven Kirkland, 23, of Hawthorne Terrace, West Cornforth, and Sharnie Louise Rank, of
A WILLINGTON man appeared at court today (Wednesday, December 19) charged with burglary of a dwelling. Brian Lee Alan Brunskill, of Norwich Gardens, is charged with stealing a boiler from a property on Chester Drive in the town yesterday. Magistrates
A FEMALE motorist who was killed in a smash on the A64 near York earlier this week has now been named. She was Marzena Dajlanaj, 30, who lived in York and her inquest was opened and adjourned today, December 19. Her black car left the westbound
A GAMES console, a computer hard drive and a huge old marquee were among 780kg of rubbish recently cleared from a beach. The RSPB organised a beach clean on South Gare, near Redcar, in a bid to make it better for wildlife and visitors. Volunteers
POP-rockers McFly will be heading for the region next summer. The band, which has sold more than ten million records worldwide, will perform at Scarborough Open Air Theatre on August 30. Tickets for the event, at £32.50, will go on sale in person at
HUNDREDS of school pupils got into the festive spirit with a Santa run in aid of charity today. About 480 Year Seven and Eight pupils ran a mile cross-country course at Durham Johnston School, in Durham City, in aid of St Cuthbert’s Hospice.
A CITY centre pub today (Wednesday, December 19) launched a winter ales festival featuring a range of local and national ales. The Bishops’ Mill in Walkergate, Durham City, will have 25 beers available – with 10 lines on at a time. Among the
A HEALTH watchdog has demanded immediate improvements at two North-East dental surgeries. The Care Quality Commissioner warned Mr Stephen Kirkup, who runs two dental surgeries in County Durham, that he is failing to protect the safety and welfare
COUNCILS in England will see their spending power cut by 1.7 per cent next year, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles announced today. He told MPs the settlement represented a "bargain" for local authorities, adding that the Government would
TWO men appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court in County Durham today (Wednesday, December 19) charged with possession with intent to supply 446 grams of cannabis - a class B drug. Gary Kevin Thexton, 28, of Wear Terrace, Witton-le-Wear,
EMERGENCY help will be available for Richmondshire council tenants over the Christmas season. All calls over the festive period will be dealt with by the emergency out-of-hours service, Ryecare, on 01653 690738. Ryecare will also cover homelessness
THE owners of a Darlington care home have been fined thousands of pounds after failing to meet regulations on the safe handling of medication. St Martin’s Care Ltd was fined £4,000 by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after inspectors found that
PAINSTAKING work to demolish five homes at risk of collapse after a disastrous landslip is almost complete. The brick-by-brick dismantling of the properties on Aelfleda Terrace in Whitby is expected to be completed by the end of this week.
THE plug has finally been pulled on a regular series of council-led public meetings designed to help the authority engage with local communities. Investigations into the best way to consult with local people across the Hambleton district - including
A SPENNYMOOR man who failed to comply with the terms of the sex offenders' register appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court today (December 19). James Harry Vincent Cumiskey, of Wood Vue, admitted that he had failed to tell authorities of
YOUNG people will be able to sign up for a proof of age card at a drop-in session taking place on Christmas Eve. ID4U cards will be available at a drop-in session taking place at Consett Police station on December 24 from 10am to 1pm. The cards
A PRIMARY school has become one of the first in the region to receive a UNICEF award for its work to respect children’s rights. THE Federation of Abbey Schools in Darlington has been awarded the Rights Respecting School Award (RRSA) for recognising
NORTH-EAST pupils will be the first in the UK to benefit from an innovative programme that challenges youngsters to run a city and create a vibrant economy. Devised in the United States, Enterprise City sees children take control of their own city
TRIBUTES have been paid to one of the region’s most eminent business men, building tycoon Sir Lawrence Barratt. Known as Sir Lawrie and renowned for being the high profile face at the helm of Barratt Developments for more than 35 years, he died
IT’S at this time of year that we remember that we really are a 24/7 operation. Some of our services take a break over Christmas so that staff and patients can spend time with their families, but our vital services don’t pause - St Teresa’s Hospice
DRINKERS at a new upmarket Newcastle bar will have to pay a minimum price of £1.25 per unit of alcohol as part of a council's efforts to shed the city's party image. Joe Robertson, a millionaire pub boss, known as 'Champagne Joe', is reported to
THE latest man to be arrested in connection with Operation Sacristy has been released on police bail until March next year. The 52-year-old was arrested yesterday (Tuesday, December 18) on suspicion of fraud, corruption and money laundering following
A CATERING company in North Yorkshire has won a contract to supply iconic venue Scarborough Spa. The new contract sees Yorkshire Dales Meat Company supplying the historic multi-purpose venue with a meat, including topside of beef, sausages, turkey
A CAMPAIGN aiming to help jobless young people get into work, education or training has been launched by a North-East social enterprise. Groundwork North East is delivering Nu-Traxx in County Durham, alongside Stockton Riverside College and The
COUNCILLORS have backed plans to squeeze second home owners in order to protect benefit claimants, saying the poorest must be supported amid ‘devastating’ welfare cuts. Durham County Council’s cabinet has approved creating a local council tax support
WORK has started on a £1.9m housing development which is designed to help people onto the property ladder. The Vela Group, which includes Housing Hartlepool and Tristar Homes, is transforming the site of a former nursing home that will see 22 two
THERE were dramatic scenes this morning as police raided properties across Teesside in a crackdown on festive crime. Suspected offenders were arrested and taken away in police vans as Cleveland Police sent almost 100 officers out to round up burglars
IWROTE in a previous article about the implementation of the requirements of the Financial Services Authority’s Retail Distribution Review which applies to investments and becomes effective from January 1. Among the changes being introduced are
ELECTRONICS design and manufacturing firm Stadium Group has given itself a head start for next year by selling its Hong Kong office for a £2.3m profit. The Hartlepool-based firm, which has been expanding over the past nine months by acquiring design-led
A NORTH-EAST clothing company which has enjoyed spectacular success this year has donated £1m towards medical research at their local university. This latest donation - to Newcastle University - brings the total given to charitable causes since
WAS anybody able to cheer when Chancellor George Osborne sat down at the end of an Autumn Statement which promised several more years of austerity as Britain’s debts continue to rise? Motorists have been spared the promised 3p per litre rise in
A PANEL of independent health experts will visit the North-East tomorrow as part of a fresh review of plans to reduce the number of hospitals allowed to carry out child heart surgery. The Independent Reconfiguration Panel, headed by former consultant
MAN CHARGED: Police have charged a 22-year-old with shoplifting and assault after a number of items were taken from a store in Darlington. The man kicked a member of staff as he left the shop before dropping the items and running off. He then
Tell us a bit about your job. I AM head of a large organisation which makes and distributes Christmas presents for every child in the world. We do everything, from receiving present requests by letter, email and Twitter to keeping a database of
A GOVERNMENT department has apologised to a Darlington man after a “mistake” left him being owed more than £2,500 in incapacity benefit. Gary Dawson, 52, of Egglestone View had been claiming £120 a month incapacity benefit since a fall at work
MEDICATION LOST: A quantity of medication that is usually used to treat depression has been lost in South Bank. The Propronol, Azathioprine and Predrisolone tablets were lost close to Tesco stores on Skippers Lane yesterday evening (Tuesday, December
A SCHOOL has created its own smart phone application to ensure that parents can keep up to speed with what is happening. Normanby Primary School, Middlesbrough, has developed the free app to give out information on term dates, news, events and
HOW many of us are likely to receive a pair of socks this Christmas that we don’t particularly want or need? This is the question posed by a charity volunteer in Darlington who is calling on the community to think of the homeless this Christmas
MAN STABBED: A 24-year-old man was left with stab injuries to the chest following an incident that took place near to the North Tees Industrial Estate on Portrack Lane, Stockton. He received treatment at the North Tees University Hospital. A man has
Moment of the year - Redcar blast furnace is re-lit IT takes a lot to make steel workers cry. There was anger and dismay two years ago when Teesside Cast Products blast furnace in Redcar was mothballed. Few people thought it would return.
INFINITI may be a new name to British drivers but Nissan has been attempting to park its tanks on BMW’s lawns for nearly as long as Lexus. The brand was launched in the US 23 years ago to target the luxury market that was otherwise out of reach
THE sitar is not a household name or a genre of music we would necessarily rush out to the shops to buy. It is an instrument associated with his native India but Ravi Shankar, who died recently (Echo, Dec 13), was a legend in his own right – a
CHARLIE KAY is right to reject the claim by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the British economy is healing (HAS, Dec 8). Given a fair wind it may not recover until 2018. The Conservative Party will have a difficult task convincing the
AS a leading choirboy in my midteens I became involved in an adolescent romance with the vicar’s daughter. Her father strongly disapproved, but being a man of the cloth and somewhat enlightened for the 1950s, I think he’d resolved to let matters
I OFTEN get asked what the ska band Bad Manners are currently up to. I would like to inform their legion of North-East fans that Buster Bloodvessel and his mates have released a new single, available via download. What Simon Says is a new tune
IT is with great interest that I noted the Liberal Democrats had selected Angelika Schneider to stand as their candidate in the next European elections. Ms Schneider hopes to replace current MEP Fiona Hall, who is standing down. It is rather ironic
WHAT on Earth has happened to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Job Search website? It has been replaced by an even worse monstrosity called Universal Jobmatch. Once signed up it is supposed to match jobs to the details you have downloaded
AS the weather gets colder and households in Darlington turn up their heating, many will be worrying about how to pay their energy bills. However, there is help out there, which is why I’m encouraging anyone struggling to keep warm this winter
A CHRISTMAS market in Darlington has been cancelled. The Christingle Market was due to take place in the town centre tomorrow (Thursday, December 20), from noon until 8pm, but has been called off due to a poor weather forecast. Traders who
A TEENAGE girl who was knocked down by a car on her way to school is improving in hospital. The 13-year-old was struck by a Vauxhall Corsa as she tried to cross a road in Bearpark on the outskirts of Durham City on Tuesday morning. The accident
GIFTS donated by police staff are to be handed out to children who have been victims of sexual assault. Presents collected from staff across Durham Constabulary force area are to be given to children who have reported sexual assaults to the police
THE Government says that by reintroducing the 50p top rate of tax it will force wealthy earners to flee these isles for pastures new, leaving others to pick up the shortfall. So Chancellor George Osborne has decided to peg the top rate of tax at
THE High Court has quashed the original accidental death inquest verdicts returned after 96 Liverpool football fans died in the crush at Hillsborough 23 years ago. The Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge and two other judges in London ordered fresh inquests
REDCAR and Cleveland Borough Council is to give the tiny East Cleveland village of Stanghow a great Christmas present this year. In recent years, Stanghow has won the Northumbria in Bloom small village category a record five times and Britain in
A CHARITY is giving a festive helping hand to shoppers by offering to wrap Christmas presents. Volunteers from St Teresa’s Hospice, in Darlington, will be in Queen Street Shopping Centre tomorrow (Thursday, December 20), to wrap gifts in exchange
COMEDIAN Sarah Milligan is speculating on one of the bizarre uses for spare pants which, she’s been told, can be popped on your head to make sure your rollers don’t fall out of your hair. There are also other uses for spare pants which it wouldn
“THE American dream.” Few phrases trip more readily off the tongues of US politicians, especially presidents. Embodying the idea that anyone, regardless of class, creed or colour, can succeed by hard work, the concept is part of the American psyche
AFTER spending hours on the cold and wet streets of Stockton, I couldn’t bear it any longer. My clothes were wet, I was shivering and even the most sheltered of doorways did nothing to protect me from the elements. When sleeping rough becomes too
A BUS operator is to raise fare prices in Darlington. Arriva, which runs a number of services in the town, will increase charges from January 6. The changes will see an adult town centre pass rise from £3 to £3.20, with a weekly fare changed
ONE royal commentator described the Queen’s visit to the Cabinet yesterday as daft. Others suggested that it crossed a constitutional line, muddling the elected with the unelected. Some have even seen it as a sinister takeover attempt. The
ANDY Flower is optimistic England have adopted all the right methods on and off the pitch to take their performance to a new level in 2013. Flower left India on Monday night, along with the nucleus of the team who this week completed a historic
NEWCASTLE UNITED have identified Marseille striker Loic Remy as the preferred alternative should Demba Ba's time on Tyneside come to an end when the transfer window opens next month. Having failed to agree a new contract with Ba, the uncertainty
THE former chief constable of Durham Police, Jon Stoddart, will lead a new police investigation into the Hillsborough Disaster, it has been announced by the Home Secretary today. Mr Stoddart will lead the new inquiry, which will focus specifically
JOSH McEachran is planning talks with Chelsea officials next month in which he will spell out his desire to remain at Middlesbrough for the second half of the season. McEachran signed a season-long loan deal in the summer, but the terms of the
A WOMAN in her 60s was left traumatised after she was sexually assaulted in her home by a man she recognised from a shopping trip. A police spokesman said the victim answered a knock at her door in Consett, County Durham, at about 4.30pm on Sunday
MOST of Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic sports were celebrating the announcement of funding rises for the next four years but several sports, including swimming, basketball, volleyball and handball, are paying the price for failure with severe cuts
Darlington and Spennymoor Town have been leading the way all season in the Ebac Northern League and meet tonight for a match on which much is riding. Both clubs have informed the Football Association of their intention to accept the single promotion
A NORTH-EAST university is to become the first in the region to offer a new teaching qualification aimed at creating a generation of technology-savvy employees. From September 2013 a Computer Science PGCE is to be offered to trainee teachers at
TOWN halls across the region were handed more than £18m of government cash yesterday (Tuesday, December 18) for road maintenance - amid warnings of a looming "pothole crisis". The department for transport handed out grants ranging from £2.8m for
AS part of efforts to reduce bullying, Boldon School recently hosted its own awards ceremony. The year's theme was: 'We're better without bullying' A national initiative to reduce bullying in schools was first introduced in 2004, since then
Students from The Academy at Shotton Hall have become the first state school in 25 years to take part in a Mock Council of the European Union. Academy students Sophie Catleugh and Ben Bowes joined secondary schools and colleges from across Britain
As part of our Foundation for Jobs campaign this column is dedicated to a young person so they can issue a "come-and-me" call to firms. Name: Liam McArearey Age: 20 From: Originally from East Kilbride, in Scotland, now living in Newton Aycliffe
JAPANESE carmaker Nissan this morning delivers a £250m pre-Christmas boost to the region when it announces plans to build a new luxury model at its Sunderland plant and create hundreds of jobs. News that the 35,000 Infiniti premium hatchback will
CASH-strapped local authorities will today (Wednesday, December 19) find out their financial settlement for next year - with one district council already revealing it will have no need to cut services. Councils’ government funding for 2013/14 will
AN HISTORIC North-East foundry business is ending the year on a high note after seeing investments in its workforce, sites and equipment pay off with a growth in sales of 18 per cent to £15.4m over 12 months. Foundry group Bonds also saw a 35 per
TONY Blair yesterday (Tuesday, December 18) issued a fierce defence of the record number of immigrants under his premiership - urging politicians not to "make them the scapegoats for our problems." The former prime minister urged people to be "
Originally established in Two Law, County Durham, in 1868, Bonds Foundry was named after Joseph Bond, who was one of the UK’s earliest steel patent holders. It was set up by Charles Attwood, with support from Baring Brothers, who moved his iron
UP to 30,000 people across the region are set to spend their second successive Christmas without a job, according to figures revealed today (Wednesday, December 19). TUC analysis of official unemployment figures shows that mass long-term unemployment
ON LOCATION: A film crew from BBC4 was at the Bowes Museum this week shooting footage of the famous Silver Swan for a planned programme on automata. Filming is continuing at locations across Europe, with a planned broadcast date of early spring 2013
AN organist has retired after 32 years of providing music at a south Durham church – although she will still be available for funerals and weddings. Edna Candler first played the organ at St Catherine’s Church in Crook when she was 18 but became
POLICE have praised a member of the public for reporting a flytipper who dumped dozens of tyres on a county road. Officers from the Weardale Neighbourhood Policing Team found the piles of car tyres on a track leading to Stanhope Burn near Crawleyside
PLANS for the expansion of an out-of-town shopping park will not be called in by the Secretary of State. Durham County Council’s planning committee last month voted in favour of an extra four units at the Bishop Auckland Shopping Park, in St Helen
FAMILY SERVICE: Windmill Methodist Chapel will host a Christmas family service on Sunday, December 23, at 10.30am. The service will be led by Ruth Dent. All welcome. WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: Disabled access is being installed at St Mary's Church, Middleton-inTeesdale
TWO women have expressed their delight after winning iPad Mini tablets courtesy of The Northern Echo. More than 800 people entered the competition to win one of two iPad Minis and the winners received their prizes today. Lynne Todd, of Merz
PARISHIONERS were flushed with pride as a new accessible toilet and baby change facilities were opened at St Mary's Parish Church, Barnard Castle, last weekend. Work to incorporate the facilities at St Mary's is part of the church’s programme of
A CHARITY has received a £100 boost after a new betting shop opened in Bishop Auckland town centre. Ladbrokes opened its doors to customers in the former Tut ‘n’ Shive, in Newgate Street today (Wednesday, December 19) with the help of Mayor, Councillor
ROCK NATIVITY: More than 100 children will perform Rock Nativity at Ferryhill Baptist Church on tomorrow (December 20), Friday and Saturday. Performances will be at 7pm each day with a matinee at 2pm on Saturday. Tickets cost £10 adults or £9 concessions
A CORONER said young men needed to realise they were not “immortal” after a 27-year-old driver was killed when he lost control of his car on a country road after drinking. Matthew Scott, aged 27, of School House, Forest in Teesdale, Barnard Castle
FASTER broadband has been rolled out to six more communities in the North-East, BT announced today (Wednesday, December 19). More than 50,000 homes across Seaton Delaval, Morpeth, Rowlands Gill, Washington, Ferryhill and Cockfield are now receiving
A COUNTY Durham town hall will build on its reputation as a budding art gallery with a programme of exhibitions in the New Year. Six exhibitions have already been scheduled in between January and August at Spennymoor Town Hall. The first exhibition
CHRISTMAS WISHES: Crook Community Partnership would like to wish everyone in the Crook area a merry Christmas. Chairman David English said: “We would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and happy New Year, and we look forward to carrying on
TABLE FIRE: A picnic table at St Anne’s Community Centre Recreation Ground in Wolsingham was damaged by a fire at around 6.45pm yesterday (December 18). It is the second time a table in the park has been damaged by fire. Anyone with information can
GENEROUS golfers have raised more than £18,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation during a year-long fundraising campaign. Bishop Auckland Golf Club captains George Courtney and Barbara Veal decided to join forces this year instead of the club
EBENEZER Scrooge provided the inspiration for this year's best dressed Christmas shop window in Barnard Castle. Traders were challenged to come up with a Dickensian display and judges awarded the trophy to staff at Oliviers furniture store, in
