LABOUR MPs spoke of their anger tonight (Tuesday, April 22) after it emerged the North-East’s biggest charity, the Northern Rock Foundation, is to close. Talks between the Foundation and its sole funder, Virgin Money, have failed to produce a deal
A THEATRE production featuring cast members all under four feet in height has opened in the region. Farcical comedy See How They Run, featuring TV and film personality Warwick Davis, runs at Darlington Civic Theatre, until Saturday (April 26).He's
Final score: Reading 2 Middlesbrough 0 AITOR KARANKA last night blamed himself for failing to give Middlesbrough's players the lift required to prevent back-to-back defeats in the final two weeks of the Championship season. Boro slipped to
Phew, a day of changes in family law or at the least of labels used. Inflammatory words like residence and contact have been banned and lawyers are now talking about child arrangements. To help resolve disputes concerning these are Signposting
NEWCASTLE UNITED'S development squad claimed the Northumberland Senior Cup with a comfortable 4-0 win over Blyth Spartans in front of more than 1,200 spectators at St James' Park. The Magpies' second string opened the scoring in the first half
POLICE have released images of a suspected teenage robber who made off with a large amount of cash from a town centre bank today (Tuesday, April 22). The young raider, who claimed to be armed, struck at the Lloyds branch in Stanley, County Durham
AITOR KARANKA has made four changes to the Middlesbrough starting line-up for tonight's trip to play-off chasing Reading. Karanka was frustrated with the way his side lost to Millwall on Saturday so he has scrapped the wing-back system which he
Yorkshire v Northamptonshire: LV= County Championship YORKSHIRE will hope for some help from the weather gods on Wednesday as they pursue a deserved LV= County Championship victory over Northamptonshire at Headingley. The White Rose county
FOR someone from Montego Bay the scene at the Emirates Durham ICG must have been utterly depressing on Tuesday. Yet Gareth Breese feels he has plenty of reasons to be cheerful. At 38, and in his 11th season with Durham, the off-spinning all-rounder
BEDALE Art Group is holding its popular Spring Art Exhibition at Bedale Hall. The exhibition will showcase the varied artwork and crafts of members of the group. There is a preview evening on Thursday, May 8 at 7pm. Admission is £1 including
FORMER air traffic controller Heather Whetnall is raising money for Help for Heroes with a tandem sky dive. Ms Whetnall, from Bedale, who was in the RAF for 19 years decided to help the good cause after leaving the RAF last year. She has parachuted
RICHMOND School governors who resigned en-masse had failed to carry out their statutory duties, a local authority has claimed. North Yorkshire County Council corporate director for children and young people's service, Pete Dwyer, has revealed why
A MOTHER and her son will face a trial in June over an allegation that they conspired together to pervert the course of justice. Pamela Shoulder, 46, of Pounteys Close, Middleton-St-George, near Darlington, and her son Ian Pritchard deny the offence
TWO men celebrated after kicking and stamping on a man's head as he lay on the ground, a court was told. Dale Gracie and Alastair Bell were involved in what a barrister described as a “large scale disturbance” in Richmond town centre, in North
THE chair of an interim school governing body brought in after the previous governors resigned en-masse has himself stepped down. Members of the interim executive board (IEB) at Richmond School will meet on Wednesday to discuss their next step
EXTENSIVE damage was caused to a commercial garage after a car caught fire in a Northallerton workshop. Fire crews from Northallerton and Bedale responded and used four breathing apparatus, a thermal imaging camera and a special ventilation fan. The
A FAMILY-RUN flower shop is closing its doors after 20 years of trading, blaming town centre parking regulations for a drop in footfall. Flowers by Nattrass is closing its West Row shop, in Darlington, on Saturday (April 26), but it is business
TICKETS for the opening ceremony of the Tour de France go on sale this week. More than 10,000 people will see reigning tour champion Chris Froome and sprint star Mark Cavendish line up alongside the 22 teams taking part in this year's race at the
GOLF clubs across Durham County Union are backing National Golf Month by offering activities to support the drive to get more adults playing the game. National Golf Month will be held across Britain in May and Durham’s clubs and ranges will offer
A MAN was killed by falling bales of straw as he performed a routine farm task, an inquest heard. Stephen Wilson, 49, of Cote Hill Farm, near Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, died on November 27, 2013, from subdural haemorrhage and a fractured
A MAN has been fined £300 after pleading guilty to swallowing a live goldfish in a Neknominate challenge. Gavin Hope, 22, was prosecuted after footage of his stunt was posted on Facebook. RSPCA chief inspector Michelle Charlton said Hope drank
THE CENTENARY of a classic novel will be celebrated at an event next week. The legacy of The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists, an enduring piece of socialist literature by Robert Tressell, will be discussed at Darlington’s Café Create on Thursday
A FORMER teacher deliberately exposed himself to his neighbours and passers-by from his front window, a court has been told. Andrew Beasley is alleged to have exposed his genitals to one female witness on at least 20 different occasions while standing
A FORMER intensive care nurse who rose to fame cooking dishes on Masterchef has had one of her dishes named as the best in the show's history. Sara Danesin Medio gave up nursing at York Hospital to run a dining club and cookery class from her home
A GREEN group hopes the discovery of a rare rock formation could help their fight against opencasting. Tufa has been discovered in Pikewell Burn, which feeds into Pont Burn, at Dipton, near Stanley, County Durham. It is formed from deposits
A FIRST WORLD War expert will be giving an insight into the literature of the conflict at a series of talks in North Yorkshire. Trevor Boag, a retired deputy headteacher and English teacher, is giving a talk introducing the literature of the war
ENFORCEMENT locations for police mobile safety cameras for week commencing Wednesday April 23, 2014. NORTH YORKSHIRE • A65 Clapham by-pass • A65 Settle by-pass • A629 eastbound Crosshills • A629 Skipton by-pass • A59 Beamsley Hill
A TWO-DAY antiques fair takes place in Barnard Castle this weekend. Galloway Antiques Fairs are hosting the event at the Bowes Museum, on Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 4.30pm. Addison’s auctioneers will also be in attendance to value antiques
A DARLINGTON-BASED company has reached the final of a national competition, giving it the chance to put the town on the map as the home of England’s best burger. Country Valley Foods, in Neasham Road, is one of only 23 companies to reach the final
WORK to replace cobbles around an 18th Century town hall has been described as “the type of vandalism not seen since Rome was sacked by the Visigoths.” A protest against digging up the cobbles on an area of Yarm High Street was organised by Yarm
OFFICERS from the Environment Agency caught 34 people fishing illegally on the region’s waterways over the Easter weekend. More than 1,000 fishermen were checked across the North-East during a four-day operation by enforcement officers and 27 were
CRAFTS and collectables will be on sale in a Teesdale village on Sunday. A craft fair takes place in the Masonic hall, at Middleton-in-Teesdale, from 11am to 3pm. Local crafts, vintage goods, clothes, books and soaps are among the items on
PHOTOGRAPHER Nikki Ramsay is in the frame of mind to do her own thing - after setting up a studio in her home town of Bedale to showcase her talents. The 26-year-old's studio in Sussex Street was opened by Mayor of Bedale Amanda Coates. Ms
A MOTORCYCLIST was hurt when he collided with a car that failed to stop on Good Friday. The 41-year-old biker suffered injuries to his left hand and fingers in the collision near Brookside Nurseries in Pannal, Harrogate, at around 2pm. His
A HOSPICE shop in an historic building has undergone a successful restoration. The Teesside Hospice charity shop was officially reopened in Stokesley today (Tuesday, April 22). After trading for more than 15 years in the premises, which date
THE regular series of piano recitals at Kirkleatham is coming to an end after 15 years. The final performance will feature Australian Stefan Cassomenos, who is principal pianist with the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra and a well established composer
FARMER James in Emmerdale (ITV1) is in a right pickle. He’s homeless and jobless. And he’s only himself to blame – he sacks himself for being useless, a task usually the prerogative of your boss. Admittedly, James has a rubbish day as a result
Jessica Brown Findlay tells Keeley Bolger about discarding Downton’s glamorous gowns to go grubby IT’S a good job Jessica Brown Findlay can laugh at herself. In her latest role, she plays headstrong heroine Mary Yellan, a young woman who finds
MEAT-EATERS are being urged to reap the benefits of a meat-free diet – both to their health and their bank accounts. As part of Meat Free May, Darlington Friends of the Earth are challenging people to give up meat during May. Participants can
Steve Pratt discovers how Hartlepool fireman Liam Lewis fared in MTV show Ex On The Beach HARTLEPOOL fireman Liam Lewis thought he’d signed up for a summer of love in a TV show… but the reality proved rather different and much more dramatic. He
REGULAR advice sessions have been organised to help people cope with rising energy bills. Darlington Citizens Advice Bureau will hold daily drop-in sessions to assist the town’s residents in managing their energy costs. Trained advisors will
Spidey’s back, and he’s not only fighting the baddies, but enjoying a forbidden romance with Gwen Stacy. Susan Griffin catches up with the film’s stars, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone IF early reviews of The Amazing Spider- Man 2 are anything to
NEW access rights have just come into force for two new stretches of the England Coast Path in the North of England. This will enable people to enjoy 36 kilometres of coastline between Allonby and Whitehaven, in Cumbria, and 55 kilometres of coastline
A COMDIAN’S love of cake saw him serving up a treat for some surprised shoppers. TV funnyman Patrick Monahan prepared for his upcoming gig at Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt by serving customers with their morning tea and cake at the Olde Young Tea
A YOUNG woman could face prosecution after two dogs were found dead in a cage, The Northern Echo has learnt. The 19-year-old was interviewed by the RSPCA after the two whippet-type dogs were discovered in a house in Darlington, earlier this month
POLICE say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of a woman in County Durham. Officers were called to Butterknowle on Sunday morning, at 9.40am, following reports that a woman's body had been found on the outskirts of the
A MAN has been remanded in custody charged with arson with intent to endanger life after a house fire that gutted a family home. The fire brigade was called to the property on Charlotte Street, Redcar, at around 2pm yesterday (Monday, April 21)
Any country that wants a tourism boost needs only to extend an invitation to the young royals COUNTRIES seeking to boost tourism often spend thousands investing in glossy marketing campaigns and new hotels. But if they really want to attract the
POLICE are seeking to dispel the myth that a village’s derelict school buildings are haunted to discourage trespassing on the dangerous site. Officers described the former St Peter’s School buildings and grounds, on the outskirts of Gainford, in
Peter Barron discovers an idyllic retreat in the midst of horse racing countryside in North Yorkshire THE first thing you notice when you walk through the door is the welcoming, fresh smell of wood – Russian pine to be exact – and it is immediately
HOPPING onto your bike for some more full-throttled thrashing around race tracks might feel too soon after Trials Fusion, but Frontier offers a much more accessible experience, expertly-suited to the smartphone and tablet gamer. The physics-based
THE Sly Racoon series was a real sleeper hit, totally under-played by the gaming fraternity on PS2, and re-discovered by a modest new band of PS3 players. This is a real shame, because the franchise still represents one of the best action platform
YOU’D have to be a pretty reclusive gamer not to have sampled the blocky brick-building delights of the LEGO game collection, which fuses the most fantastic of film franchises with the innovation and ingenuity of LEGO’s virtual re-imagining. Inspired
IT’S less than two months until football’s finest hour hits TV screens around the globe, with the World Cup in Brazil. This seminal franchise’s latest release lets you start from the bottom and work your way up the squad list, eventually leading your
THE parents of a heartbroken six-year-old girl who lost her beloved cuddly monkey during a family day-trip are appealing for help in finding the toy. Zoe Storey, from Sherburn Hill, near Durham City, has been inseparable from George the monkey
It’s time to plant your veg. Just check the soil temperature first IT’S all go in the kitchen garden at Harlow Carr this month with lots to plant out and sow. Even though seed packets say you can sow the crop in April, be very aware that up North
SOCIAL DANCE: An evening of social sequence dancing will take place at Sowerby Parochial Hall in Sowerby, near Thirsk on Monday, May 26 from 7.30pm to 11pm. Admission on the door costs £4, and all money raised will be donated to Arthritis Research
Putting in a bit of work to find the right workman is always worth the trouble, says Julia Gray GOING online to find reliable builders, plumbers and other tradespeople may sound unlikely, but there are plenty of websites and schemes designed to
CHARITIES across the North-East have suffered a major blow with the demise of the Northern Rock Foundation. Mark Tallentire reports. OVER the 16 years since it was founded when the then-Northern Rock Building Society was demutualised, the Northern
A PENSIONER risked his life when he accidentally trundled his mobility scooter onto a busy dual carriageway yesterday (Monday April 21). The 80-year-old man had taken a wrong turn on his way home from a trip to Newton Aycliffe and ended up battling
FUNDRAISERS are inviting cyclists of all ages to join them on a 20-mile fun ride to help boost local good causes. The Thirsk Rotary Club event, which will be held on Sunday, May 18, from 2pm, has raised £5,000 for causes ranging from the East Thirsk
A CONFERENCE to help improve services for families of children and young people with disabilities is being held in Middlesbrough next month. The Parents 4 Change Conference at the Riverside Stadium is organised by parents for parents and takes
Lasting three hours, JS Bach’s St Matthew Passion is a monumental work. But time itself seemed to stand still during a captivating performance by Royal Northern Sinfonia and Chorus, under conductor Thomas Zehetmair, at Sage Gateshead. From
DIAMONDS are not just a girl’s best friend, as a women’s group found out recently. Stories and facts relating to the prized jewel were shared at the last meeting of the Darlington Women’s Club. Expert gemologist Robert Bolton entertained members
NEARLY 1,000 runners have entered the Three Peaks Race taking place in the Yorkshire Dales this weekend. The gruelling fell run takes place on Saturday, April 26 in what is the 60th anniversary of the event. Among those to have signed up is
POLICE are investigating three similar cases of a man stealing cash from old people in Middlesbrough. The thefts happened between Thursday, April 17 and Saturday, April 19 at addresses on Dalcross Court in Hemlington, Ravendale Road in Middlesbrough
MOTORCYCLISTS who spent the Easter weekend getting on their bikes to take Easter eggs to elderly people have also spread little cheer to children on a hospital ward. As previously reported in The Northern Echo, about 30 members of The Boundary
The number of fatalities on North Yorkshire's roads has soared by 60 per cent. In 2013, 51 people were killed compared with 31 over the previous 12 months. Sixteen of those fatalities were motorcyclists - a 220 per cent increase - while the
A PEACE campaigner will bring his anti-nuclear weapons crusade to Darlington this week. Bruce Kent, one of Britain's best-known peace campaigners, will be at the Friends’ Meeting House, in Skinnergate, at 7pm, on Wednesday (April 23). He is
THE second in a series of monthly jazz nights takes place in a vacant city centre shop premises turned arts venue next week. Safe Sextet will follow opening act, the Debra Milne Ensemble, as the latest monthly performers at The Empty Shop HQ, on
A ROTARY club has collected £2,000 for a cancer charity. The Rotary Club of Durham Bede raised the cash for Macmillan Cancer Support by holding a bucket collection in the Metro Centre, Gateshead. Club leaders presented the money to Michelle
A PEACE activist is set to deliver a talk about his experiences as a human rights observer in Israel and Palestine. Jonathan Adams, who spent three months as an Ecumenical Accompanier in the region during 2012, will share some of what he learnt
FAMILIES gathered together in the sunshine to join in a centuries old tradition on Easter Sunday. Led by the Bishop of Jarrow, the Rt Revd Mark Bryant, crowds of people gathered to roll eggs in Heighington. The annual egg rolling competition
DROP-IN sessions for older teenagers who are looking either for work, college or training opportunities are to take place. The service, aimed at people aged 16 to 19 and their parents, takes place at the One Point children’s centre in Stanley.
THE Northern Rock Foundation - the region's largest independent grant-making body - is to close after talks with Virgin Money over future funding came to an end without an agreement. The Foundation, which aims to tackle disadvantage and improve
LAST-MINUTE arrangements are being made for an arts festival which starts on Thursday (April 24) and runs throughout May. The second annual Darlington Arts Festival has more than 50 events on its programme. It is being co-ordinated by Darlington
STAFF at an agricultural machinery retailer are set to cycle the Coast to Coast route to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Julie Williamson, of Ripon Farm Services, said she would be joined by colleagues Becky Brown, Lucy Townend, Graham
THE Port of Tyne was the venue as the Netherlands Navy paid a visit to the region. The port welcomed the HNLMS Walrus submarine, which spent four days in its Northumbrian Quay, in North Shields, North Tyneside. The 68-metre long vessel is the
THE STORY of a Canadian great-grandmother who lived through The Great Depression and settled in post-war Britain has been published for the first time. Devoted teacher and keen church-goer Kathleen Evans, known as Kay, died aged 89 last July.
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following fire that gutted a family home. The fire brigade was called to the property on Charlotte Street, Redcar, at around 2pm yesterday (Monday, April 21). It took around half an hour
VISITORS to the Head of Steam railway museum on Sunday (April 27) can hear artist Catherine Howard giving a talk entitled Textile Journey, at 1pm. She is exhibiting at the railway museum with her exhibition, Freepass, which explores railway heritage
A talented North Yorkshire antiques dealer is helping to transform film sets, restaurants, shops and the homes of the stylish worldwide. Ruth Campbell meets a man with a passion for history and design CHRIS HOLMES didn’t realise who the tall, blonde
THE public are to be transported to the land of the rising sun – in the very heart of North Yorkshire. Northallerton is to play host to Japanese performing group Kimono World on May 17 as part of a Japan Day at the Forum. Between 11am and 3pm
As Goths descend on the seaside town for their spring gathering, Yorkshire-born photographer Barry Tweed- Rycroft talks to Ruth Addicott about the technique he used to capture the gothic qualities of Whitby YORKSHIRE-BORN photographer Barry Tweed-Rycroft
KIRKBY Fleetham Feast is holding a treasure hunt on April 27. Teams or families, a maximum of five, are invited to dress up in racing colours or in fancy dress for a bike tour around the surrounding villages of Scruton, Ainderby, Thrintoft and Langton
A SMALL chapel and its unusual sculptures will be open to the public on three open days this year. Scotch Corner Chapel, near the village of Oldstead in the North York Moors National Park, was created as a war memorial to those who died in the
Amazon is experimenting with an online service you can hold in your hand and talk to. It’s a sign of the internet that’s yet to come, says Giles Turnbull AMAZON has done something no one else has thought of: it’s turned a website into a device.
Artist Sybille Neumeyer talks to Steve Pratt about the prize-winning silent music installation, which was inspired by her desire to save the world’s bees RESEARCH while pursuing her interest in natural weather indicators led German artist Sybille
BOOKINGS are being taken for stalls at an award-winning Sunday market. Darlington Sunday People’s Market takes place on the first Sunday of every month and aims to showcase the diversity of the region. It was named runner up at the annual National
Forget ringing for a takeaway or grabbing a jar of ready-made sauce. Cooking Indian food from scratch is easier than you think. Here is an easy recipe for you to try. Ingredients: Serves Six 375ml creamy coconut milk 3 rounded tsp salted
Forget ringing for a takeaway or grabbing a jar of ready-made sauce. Cooking Indian food from scratch is easier than you think. Here is an easy recipe for you to try. Ingredients: Serves Five to Six Softened butter, for the tin 2tbsp
A PEARL barley risotto? Where’s the rice? Okay, while a risotto made from pearl barley might not actually be a risotto, what else do you call this dish comprising that quintessentially British of all grains? I’m a great fan of risotto, with it’
Intrepid youngsters are enjoying outdoor adventures in their school grounds, thanks to an innovative North Yorkshire-based company. Ruth Campbell meets the inspirational survival expert behind the idea THE thought of sleeping outside under canvas
Children need to be persuaded that dining out is not all about chips and burgers WE don’t exactly do a dedicated children’s menu in our restaurant. We decided a long time ago that we couldn’t appeal to everyone and that included youngsters who
AN insolvency expert has joined an elite band after passing demanding exams to qualify as an insolvency practitioner. Chris Horner, of Robson Scott Associates, sat the examinations with 260 others nationally. Only 51 passed all three papers, and
A HOUSING association has revealed plans to build dozens of new bungalows. Social landlord Derwentside Homes has submitted two planning applications to build new houses on separate sites in Stanley. The association wants to build 25 two-bedroom
We rely so heavily on sight, yet our eyes are often overlooked in health regimes. Abi Jackson reports on a worrying new trend EYE tests aren’t just about assessing whether we need glasses. They can also help detect a range of health problems, such
The road ahead can be a little less expensive for drivers if you follow these tips IT’S not yet time to hoot the horn in celebration, but things are looking a tad better for drivers. There was no Budget petrol tax rise, and a supermarket price
THE work of a painter who inspired a generation of artists will feature at an innovative exhibition showcasing creativity. The late Tom Wall influenced a host of celebrated artists, including Mackenzie Thorpe and Carole Hutchings, as a painter
A JOCKEY who sustained life-threatening head injuries after his horse collapsed in a race has collected a £2,000 donation towards a rehabilitation centre for those injured in the sport. Brian Toomey, who is attached to trainer Kevin Ryan's stables
As Lion’s Den, a new shop selling speciality wines, beers and spirits opens in Yarm, Sam Marsden talks to Ruth Addicott about what it has to offer NEXT time you are stocking up your drinks cabinet and looking for inspiration, it might be worth
FIFTY years ago, nearly to the day, on Saturday, April 18, 1964, Jimmy McMillan, the Crook Town outside left, climbed the steps to the Royal Box at Wembley Stadium to receive his fourth and record-breaking FA Amateur Cup winners’ medal. No player
WHEN Co-op shops were opened in many towns and villages all over the region, most were a success right away. A lot of families liked the idea of receiving an annual dividend. However, it was a different story when Barnard Castle Co-operative
PACT MEETING A PACT meeting for residents of the West Villages will take place at Redworth Hall Hotel in Heighington, near Darlington on Wednesday April 23 from 7.30pm. The meeting will allow members of the Heighington and Coniscliffe ward to discuss
STUDENTS have taken fundraising to new heights after their Yorkshire hills trek raised nearly £7,000 for cancer research. Former Darlington College student Claire Robson was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2011 and her partner Peter Dent, who still
GUNNER George James spent Easter 1916 in the trenches near Ypres, but his mind was on the traditional ceremonies that he knew would be unfolding in the Methodist chapel in his home village of Littletown, in County Durham. Easter would have been
EAST PARK, also known as Eastbourne Park, was opened on May 17, 1902. A large wagonette of councillors drove out from the town hall for the ceremony, with the macebearer “resplendent in crimson plush breeches, white silk stockings, laced blue coat
WHILE we are looking at railways, we accidentally discovered this picture in a 1953 edition of The Northern Echo. It shows an A4 Pacific pulling the new Elizabethan service from Edinburgh to London approaching Eryholme, to the south of Darlington.
BRENDA Collins will give a concert in Bowburn Community Centre, Durham Road, Bowburn, on Friday (April 25). The show is for over 18s only. Tickets are ﾣ3. The bar opens at 6.30pm. Proceeds will go to Bowburn Community Association and the Bowburn Banner
A NORTH-EAST bar has undergone a management buyout supported by business advisers UNW. The Empress, situated on the cobbled bank leading to the Quayside near St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, will now undergo a facelift after being sold to its
A new guide to the Bishop Line charts much of the route of the former Stockton and Darlington Railway that opened in 1825 A NEW booklet to promote probably the most historic railway line in the world has just been produced. The Bishop Line runs
VERY FIRST BLADE would most certainly not be winning out of turn when he has his 21st start at Wolverhampton. The five-year-old gelding was a particularly robust servant for former trainer Mark Brisbourne, but he has not yet won for Michael Mullineaux
Yorkshire v Northamptonshire: LV= County Championship (Day Two) JACK BROOKS believes his performance with bat and ball and Yorkshire’s winning position in their ongoing LV= County Championship match against his former county Northamptonshire has
IN my view, the headline “Legs Before Wicket”, in regard to the Duchess of Cambridge was quite justified and did not warrant criticism. The female member of staff who thought it was sexist and patronising (Echo, Apr 21) must have a chip on her
REGARDING the news that a squadron of RAF Typhoon jets is to fly east in a show of strength against further Russian aggression in Ukraine (Echo, Apr 17). It costs the RAF £3,875 an hour to fly just one of these aircraft. The Ukraine would appear
THE families, staff, friends and parish councillors fought hard to save the Newtown House Residential Home, in Weardale, from closure. An unprecedented number of letters and an evidence-based report sent to Durham County Council set out why Newtown
THE Walk Of Witness in Bishop Auckland on Good Friday morning, organised by the Bishop Auckland Fellowship Of Christian Churches, was an absolute pleasure to be part of it. Starting from the Newgate Centre and ending at Auckland Castle, we were
I FIND the letters written by Redcar’s Stephen Dixon very thought-provoking. Stephen’s recent letter (HAS, Apr 16) was another example of appealing to politicians’ consciences. He’s correct about the similarities between David Cameron and Margaret
IF R J Gunn (HAS, Apr 17) thinks our parliament operates much differently to the European Parliament, then he has never watched it on TV. The chamber is almost empty. The MPs are away calculating their expenses and they only turn up to vote
WHEN a colleague visited me from Leeds for the day I thought I would show him Darlington town centre. I wished I hadn’t. He was totally taken aback with the mess from Grange Road all the way along High Row with virtually every paving stone
THE artificial insemination procedures inflicted once again on Tian Tian and Yang Guang by their jailers at Edinburgh Zoo are both invasive and stressful for these much-manipulated animals. And all for what? Even if these procedures are successful
INSURANCE companies must be among the worst culprits in the great British rip-off. After receiving a quote for the renewal of my existing insurance policy, I rang the company to cancel on the basis that I thought it too high. In less than a
GK CHESTERTON said: “The secret of being a successful journalist is to write one article for the Church Times and another article for The Horseracing Times, address them to the respective editors, then put them in the wrong envelopes.” Perhaps
HE helped found the Labour Party and reduced a British Prime Minister to tears in the House of Commons. He led the miners’ union for ten years, was a close ally of Keir Hardie and spent much of the First World War in and out of Downing Street.
WITH less than a month to go before the European elections, the UK Independence Party (Ukip) looks to be on course for a record-breaking result. If the opinion polls are correct, it may even win the largest share of the vote for the European Parliament
A LEISURE centre saved from closure by dedicated volunteers is celebrating a major boost, after securing nearly £50,000 in Lottery funding. The Active Life Centre, in Coxhoe, near Durham City, has won £49,965 from the National Lottery through Sport
IS it really only 30 years since Bearpark Colliery heaved its last? Barely 20 since County Durham closed the coal house door? It seems another lifetime, a different and a more dangerous age. They held a service to mark the closure anniversary
JOE DEMPSIE is fast becoming one of the faces of his generation. However, he’s recently been less recognisable thanks to his latest role in New Worlds, Channel 4’s drama set during the turbulent 1680s. “On the first day of the shoot the makeup
IF you watched the recent series of W1A, you will be well aware of its characters’ attempts to get a programme called Britain’s Tastiest Village off the ground. Were the scriptwriters aware that this show was in development at the time? You
PAOLO NUTINI was a breath of fresh air when he burst onto the music scene in 2006. That 20-something force of nature sounded like a man twice his age, with tracks such as Rewind and New Shoes from the album These Streets becoming Top 30 UK hits.
MEMBERS of the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) of Great Britain completed their annual residency in the North-East by showcasing their formidable talents at Sage Gateshead. After two weeks rehearsing together at Durham University’s College of St
Durham v Sommerset: LV= County Championship (Day Two) JUST when Durham seemed to be building a commanding lead on the second day of their home match against Somerset they lost five wickets for 35 runs. They somehow allowed a flagging attack
MANCHESTER UNITED manager David Moyes looks to be heading out of Old Trafford, but the club insisted he has not been sacked. Widespread reports claimed the former Everton boss would be told his time as United is up, after a dire first season in
CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho was in a curt mood on the eve of his team’s Champions League semi-final first leg with Atletico Madrid and refused to discuss Saturday’s controversial Premier League loss to Sunderland. The relegation-threatened Black
GLAXOSMITHKLINE and Swiss rival Novartis are to create a consumer healthcare powerhouse as part of a string of deals in the pharmaceuticals sector today. The tie-up will create a world-leading business with annual revenues of around 6.5 billion
BROOKLYN, New York act Dubl Handi brought their superb spin on old timey folk country music to the Live Theatre. From the word go, they made themselves feel at home, and audience too. As Brian Geltner (percussion, washboard; it is after an
After just ten months as manager of Manchester United, David Moyes was dismissed shortly after 8am this morning. The decision was announced following a meeting with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward at the Carrington training ground. A statement
Full-time: Wakefield 1 Darlington 5 Adam Mitchell played his way into contention for a starting spot in the play-offs after a starring role Darlington’s 5-1 demolition of Wakefield. He was one of seven changes as Martin Gray rested key players
A DOG rehoming charity that has helped thousands of canines to find loving new families is preparing to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Nestled on a hill overlooking the small village of Sadberge, Dogs Trust Darlington tries to help every dog it
PAPISS CISSE could miss the start of pre-season training after breaking his kneecap in Newcastle United's 2-1 defeat to Swansea at the weekend. Cisse will definitely play no part in the Magpies' remaining three matches of the current campaign against
LEE CATTERMOLE has revealed that Sunderland's post-match celebrations at Stamford Bridge were curtailed within a minute as the squad immediately set their sights on Sunday's potential relegation decider against Cardiff City. The Black Cats claimed
LIVERPOOL need seven points from their final three matches to be guaranteed their first league title since 1990. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson highlights six reasons why Brendan Rodgers' side are standing on the brink of a triumph few anticipated
JONATHAN WOODGATE has attempted to ease the disappointment of missing out on a play-off place by insisting Middlesbrough will be right in the promotion mix under Aitor Karanka next season. Boro's failure to avoid defeat at Millwall on Saturday
THE hard work of individuals and voluntary organisations in benefiting their communities across County Durham ihas been launched. The Northern Echo is backing the Durham Community Action awards which will recognied those who giving up their own
COUNCILS across the North East are doing their best to fix the potholes littering our roads - but can't repair them all unless the government is prepared to spend billions, according to the AA. Figures requested by The Northern Echo under the Freedom
THERE are some bosses who are known for their fiery character. Andrew Nicholson is well practised at breathing fire. But the angry flames he spits out are not directed at his staff. The 52-year-old is, in fact, a fire-eater. He is also
FOR a while yesterday afternoon, the odds were certainly stacked against North Yorkshire horse Bearskin in the 6.10 handicap at Redcar Racecourse. The three-year-old gelding was due to run in the race, his first of the year, but mysteriously disappeared
SCHOOL students have been building bridges with industry in a project designed to boost interest in engineering and architecture. Students from Longfield School, Darlington, spent the day with architects and civil engineers exploring the region
THE China Independent Film Festival, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Newcastle next month, offers a unique insight into the world’s most populated country. It is the first time the internationally-renowned indie festival – which has
AN art and design course at a North-East university has been rated “outstanding” by Ofsted. In its first inspection of Sunderland University’s foundation diploma in art and design, based at the National Glass Centre, Ofsted gave the course its
REGULAR work experience whilst in education significantly increases a student’s chances of gaining employment, research commissioned by a North-East school has found. The research comes as Studio West, the North-East’s ‘studio school’ for 13 to
TEAMS of budding mathematicians have taken part in this year’s annual East Durham Schools Maths Challenge. The event, which took place at The Lubetkin Theatre at East Durham College’s Peterlee Campus, saw 11 teams of four battle it out for top
SPORTS student Ross Pickersgill has won his way through to the national final of a personal trainer competition. The 18-year-old took part in the North East regional heat of the Level 3 CYQ fitness trainer competition, in which his friend and fellow
BENEFITS claimants in the North-East and North Yorkshire have been hit harder by Government’s ‘bedroom tax’ than any other region, a new study has revealed. The report, by Oxfam and the New Policy Institute (NPI), warns that wide-ranging cuts are
PRIZE sausages will be among the award-winning produce on offer at a popular food festival this weekend. The Northumberland Sausage Company, set up by former scientist Dr Claire Watson-Laney and her father, is just one of dozens of established
A SCHOOL celebrating its 400th anniversary this year has formally submitted plans for a major rebuild. Wolsingham School and Community College is currently split over two sites, including the 103-year-old lower school and the newer upper school
PUPILS were “knighted” in a special ceremony at a Bishop Auckland castle. Year One children from Escomb Primary School visited Auckland Castle today (Tuesday, April 22) to mark the end of a project looking at Knights and castles. The mayor
PUPILS at a Newton Aycliffe school launched an investigation after a mysterious giant egg appeared in their playground. The youngsters made the discovery on their return to Sugar Hill Primary School following the Easter break today (Tuesday, April
A CRICKET league has received an £800 boost thanks to a national company keen to support projects close to home. Specsavers, in Bishop Auckland, has agreed to sponsor the Wear Valley Indoor Cricket League. The money donated by the business
