Archive

A FARMER loads a trailer full of hay bales near Winston Gate, County Durham in this photo by Northern Echo photographer Chris Booth.

THE Foreign Office has confirmed tonight (Friday) that the body of John Alder, one of two Newcastle United fans killed in the crash of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, has been identified. Mr Alder died alongside fellow fan Liam Sweeney and 296

A BANNED motorist drove towards a former partner of his own ex-girlfriend after spotting him on a footpath near her home.The startled pedestrian had to leap onto a garden wall to avoid being hit by the Peugeot 206 driven by Darren Jacques.Durham Crown

A ROOFTOP protest following reports of a burglar led to streets in Middlesbrough being cordoned off.Police were called to an address in Costa Street at around 1.55pm today (Friday, August 29)."On arrival, a man was found to have climbed onto the

MARK Knopfler has re-recorded the iconic Local Hero theme ahead of next weekend’s Great North Run.The song entitled, Going Home, was originally released more than 30 years ago and will be played live to mark the race’s one millionth finish.All

NORTH-EAST trio Jess Eddie, Zoe Lee and Nathaniel Reilly-O’Donnell will compete for medals on Monday as the World Rowing Championships come to a conclusion in Amsterdam.But Olympic champion Kat Copeland will only be contesting a B final after her

PATRICK BAMFORD has pledged to deliver goals after his season-long loan to Middlesbrough was finally completed this evening. Bamford, who turns 21 next week, has moved from Chelsea for the remainder of the campaign and is expected to be named on

VANDALS who have damaged a primary school play area days before the children are due to return have come forward, police have said.Staff at St Cuthbert’s Primary School, in Crook, returned to school yesterday (Thursday, August 28) to find parts

A MAN said to be disliked by some members of his local community was today (Friday August 29) jailed following violence in the street where he lived.Police were called to reports of a disturbance in Burnopfield, near Stanley, County Durham, on May 16.

THE group behind efforts to raise the profile of a North-East town has failed to buy an internationally-important Roman fort, despite offering the £2m asking price. Auckland Castle Trust believes it is the only viable option to safeguard the future

A PERMANENT memorial to two North-East football fans who died on board flight MH17 has been unveiled.Newcastle United has created the The Alder Sweeney Memorial Garden at St James’ Park in memory of the dedicated supporters killed following their

MIDDLESBROUGH have finally confirmed the signing of Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford on a season-long loan. The move has been a drawn-out process between the two clubs, but Bamford arrived on Teesside on Friday to complete a medical and sign terms

PREPARATIONS are under way for a free family-friendly live music event due to be held in a North-East park.Proms in the Park will be held in South Park, Darlington, on Saturday, September 13.Live music will be performed from 4pm at the band stand in South

AN ELDERLY woman has died following a road crash. The smash happened on the westbound A690 dual carriageway at East Rainton, between Durham and Sunderland, at about 12.10pm today (Friday, August 29). The driver of one of the vehicles, an 81

A PERVERT who used a hidden camera to spy on a girl in the shower was today (Friday, August 29) jailed for 18 months.David Briddick, from Darlington, was told by a Teesside Crown Court judge what he had done was "shameful".Briddick, a store

PUPILS from a Yarm school are set to become stars of a new fly on the wall documentary.A television crew spent months working in Conyers School filming Year 7 students as they started their journey through secondary education.Science teacher Jonathan

A SHOP worker has cycled 70 miles as part of a charity baton relay.Matt Witney pedalled between Cotswold Outdoor stores in Durham City and Harrogate today (Friday, August 29) in aid of Wings For Life, which funds research into the treatment of spinal

AN armed robber who threatened two women at gunpoint before escaping with a shop’s takings is being hunted by police.The raider struck at about 8.50pm on Thursday, August 28, at MacRae’s newsagents on Huntington Road in York.He entered the

A NORTH-EAST banknote printer has revealed its new chief executive.De La Rue, which has its main printing factory in Gateshead, has appointed BAE Systems managing director Martin Sutherland.The move comes after the departure of Tim Cobbold in March.Mr

FOUR veterans completed an 11,000ft parachute jump as part of the celebrations surrounding the visit of the Mynarski Memorial Lancaster to the region.Norman Horton, Bill Sidthorpe, Christine Elliott and Sean Sellings volunteered to skydive on Thursday

POETRY lovers are in for a treat when international artists come together in the North-East in October.And to give everyone a taste of what is to come the organisers of the Teesside International Poetry Festival 'T-Junction' visited the mima art

POETRY lovers are in for a treat when international artists come together in the North-East in October.And to give everyone a taste of what is to come the organisers of the Teesside International Poetry Festival 'T-Junction' visited the mima art

STARS from the world of athletics have paid tributes to a respected coach, who has died following a long battle with prostate cancer.Trevor Marsay, who was born and bred in Darlington, was a former coach of 2004 Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist Kelly

TAX-PAYERS from across Stockton would have to pay £100,000 just to examine the possibility of of Yarm leaving Stockton Borough Council, a report has claimed.That figure, which will be considered by Stockton Borough Council's cabinet committee

A MAN who threatened to burn his partner’s house down while she was inside it with their children has appeared in court.Danial Howe of Adamson Street, Shildon, pleaded guilty at Peterlee Magistrates' Court to common assault and threatening to

A MARRIED chef who claimed to be single and unemployed pocketed more than £17,000 in hand-outs he should not have got.William McLuckie said he was unfit to work because of depression and picked up £7,894 in Incapacity Benefit, a court heard.He

SIX people have appeared in court charged with conspiring to burgle 43 houses, stealing jewellery and cash worth tens of thousands of pounds.The alleged criminal gang are said to have raided 33 houses across Coxhoe, Bowburn, Durham City, Chester-le-Street

A NUMBER of special guests will be making an appearance at Kirkleatham Museum on Sunday, as part of an exhibition of show business memorabilia.There will be look-a-likes from films including Alien, Star Wars, and Back to the Future as well as a replica

THERE will be high-speed boat racing on the River Tyne this weekend (August 30-31).The third annual NE1 Zapcat Grand Prix will be staged on a course between the Tyne and Millennium bridges from 11am to 5.30pm on Saturday and 10am to 2pm on Sunday.Spectators

A CARE home threw open its doors to the community when it hosted a summer fair. The event at Redworth House, on Byerley Road, Shildon, raised £450 for the home’s comfort fund.Members of staff dressed up as their favourite Disney characters

AN application for a single family Gypsy site has been granted after it was initially rejected on the grounds that it would damage the visual impact of the area.Planning inspector Louise Crosby overturned Darlington Borough Council’s decision to

A CHILDREN’S football team has a smart strip for the new season thanks to a local roofing and building firm. Stanley-based Hodgson Sayers has given the under-8s team of Beamish FC, known as the Beamish Tigers, ten kits and training jackets for

VOLUNTEERS are needed to help a project aimed at improving people’s health, wellbeing and quality of life.The Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP), in Newton Aycliffe, wants more people to sign up to the Health Buddy scheme, which offers flexible,

FANS of The Archers will know that multigenerational living is working well for David and Ruth Archer and their kids, busy farmers whose lives have much improved since domestic goddess Jill, David’s mum, moved in with them. The arrangement works

Spennymoor Town have transfer-listed striker Daniel Taylor. He is in his second season with the club after joining from Oldham Athletic in the summer of 2013 and scoring 22 goals during 13-14, despite several injuries. Interested parties are

LANDLORDS have been warned that their tenants could soon demand they upgrade their homes to make them energy efficient. From April, 2016 landlords will only be able to say “no” to tenants demanding properties are made energy efficient in exceptional

THIS stunning fourbedroom detached property has been extended and revamped by the current owners to create a contemporary family home. It is situated in Long Dale, an executive cul-de-sac of six individual detached properties within the Poppyfields

A WOMAN has been named community champion for her dedication to helping young people in North Yorkshire.Abigail Homer, chief executive of the charity The Clock, in Thirsk, was selected for the title in a contest by Grand Central Rail designed to find

DARLINGTON letting agents My Property Box is celebrating two years of trading during which time it has become one of the town’s leading agents. “Since My Property Box opened in August 2012 it has gone from strength to strength and is now competing

ADAM Pomoroy has rejoined the sales team at Venture Properties in Darlington after working in Abu Dhabi for a number of years. Adam will assist with valuations and work as a sales consultant within the office. Prior to embarking on a new career

EMPTY nest syndrome used to be something that many mothers, in particular, dreaded. In years gone by, children would go to university and, most likely, stay away when they found a career and started their own families. In the years between graduation

THE Elite Cinema in Leyburn used to have them queuing out the doors to see the latest blockbuster movies featuring top Hollywood stars. Now the former cinema, which closed six years ago, is proving a box office hit for Charltons Estate Agents as a

DISCERNING buyers looking for a property that could be used either as a stylish family home or – as at present – a B&B, should make sure to view this elegant townhouse in Newgate, on the outskirts of Barnard Castle. Extending to four floors

A SECURITY firm renowned for keeping major sporting events safe has won another major deal.The Protector Group is providing surveillance and staff to the World Equestrian Games, in Normandy.The work comes after the company last month worked at the Glasgow

WHILE the current owners of Stepping Stones may not retain the services of a butler, their historic grade II listed Georgian gem of a property is home to a butler’s pantry – as well as a candle cupboard and a number of other period features of note

GUS POYET claims Sunderland deserve almost all the credit for Jack Colback’s maiden call up into the England squad. Colback earned his first selection for full international honours yesterday when Roy Hodgson included him in the squad for next

TWO young boys have been rescued after getting into difficulties in the sea by the pier at Whitby.RNLI lifeguard Megan Ellis was patrolling the beach when she spotted a child struggling in a deep pool of water at about 11am on Thursday, August 23.She

NEWCASTLE United manager Alan Pardew has completed the ice bucket challenge after being nominated by Sunderland AFC owner Ellis Short. Magpies midfielder Jack Colback - who controversially moved to Newcastle on a free transfer from the Wearside

INTREPID fundraisers will cycle, canoe and climb from dawn until dusk on Saturday (August 30) for a charity that changes the lives of critically ill children. Darlington-based Niven Architects colleagues Johnathan Munkley, Marc Warren and Stephen

A TEENAGER suffered fatal head injuries when he stepped out in front of a car on an unlit road, an inquest has heard. Tom Brown had spent the evening with his girlfriend and a group of friends at a popular hangout for teenagers on Wolviston Road

TESCO has issued another annual profits warning as the price war raging in the UK's supermarket aisles continues.The store says it will cut its dividend for shareholders by 75 per cent and has pledged an annual cut of £400m on capital spending.Former

THE mother of an eight-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis is to tackle Britain’s highest mountain to raise funds for the charity which helps her son. Emma Smith, from Northallerton, is to climb Ben Nevis in Scotland on Saturday, September 8 to raise

DARLINGTON shoppers can enjoy big bargains – thanks to a little book of offers. Business improvement company Distinct Darlington has teamed up with retailers and businesses across the town centre to compile a booklet packed with special deals and

A NEW charity store has opened its doors with ‘Something in Mind’ for everyone. The Redcar and Cleveland branch of the mental health charity Mind has developed a low carbon store that will focus on their mantra of ‘Reuse, Recycle and Repurpose’

RESIDENTS are being asked to set the priorities of a new action team set up to improve life in their village.The Community Action Team, set up by Durham County Council, will begin work in Easington Colliery on Monday, and spend the next eight weeks working

A CAMPAIGNER who collected more than 1,000 signatures on a petition calling for action at a notorious crossroads is to deliver his appeal direct to councillors.Brian Hall and other Bedale residents have campaigned for more than ten years for road safety

THE owners of the Mynarski Memorial Lancaster have cancelled its engagements for this weekend, after it suffered an oil leak which left smoke pouring from one of its engines. It was taking part in a demonstration flight from Durham Tees Valley

Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley says that their FA Cup preliminary round tie at Tadcaster Albion is “far from easy.” Tadcaster are sixth in the Northern Counties East League, a level below Moors, and their officials took in Moors’ 3-1 league win

Both Newton Aycliffe and Crook could do with a morale boost when they play each other at Moore Lane this afternoon. Aycliffe are fifth bottom having won only once this season in five games, but manager Ady Webster is close to choosing from a full

Shildon manager Gary Forrest is pleased that there isn’t such a great weight of expectation on them when they go to EvoStik League club Padiham on Saturday. Shildon are thought by many to be favourites to win the Northern League, and Forrest said

TASTER sessions for a class to alleviate back, neck and joint pains taking place in September will raise funds for two charities.Alexander Technique tutor Gail Barlow, who has more than 30 experience of teaching the method, is holding classes in Northallerton

COMMONWEALTH GAMES gold medallists Paul and Joanna Drinkhall will aim to add to their medal collection when they compete in the European Team Table Tennis Championships in Lisbon next month.The mixed doubles champions from Glasgow have been named in the

A DARLINGTON pub is the only hostelry in County Durham and Teesside to feature in the 2015 edition of the Good Food Guide.The latest edition marks the first time that the guide has published a list of The Bay Horse in Hurworth is the only pub in Teesside

NORTH-EAST businesses are invited to take advantage of opportunities in India.The ERDF-funded NECC Access Programme offers companies the chance to visit Bangalore and New Delhi, with a grant of £1,000 available.Access India has been working with

A MAN’S home cannabis farming operation has now cost him £100,000 following a crime proceeds court agreement, almost two years after his conviction.Alan Nicholson, now 48, of Taylor Avenue, Bearpark, near Durham, was given an eight month prison

TWO Darlington entrepreneurs are set to go head-to-head with hundreds of business owners for the chance to sell their wares at one of the country’s most iconic department stores.Inspired by their love of vintage, Karen Riley and Donna Feeney set

SHOPS and businesses in a Darlington shopping street will fall silent in tribute to one of the town's most recognisable characters, who died suddenly this week.Always immaculately turned out and never without his trademark fedora hat, Eamonn Segrave

THE Co-operative group will face the final hurdle in its plans for a radical shake-up of the way it is run.A special general meeting tomorrow (Saturday, August 30) will decide on proposals drawn up in the wake of a disastrous period last year when it

MALAYSIA Airlines is shedding 6,000 jobs.The announcement comes after the disappearance of flight MH370 in March and the shooting down of flight MH17 over Ukraine.The jobs figure is about a third of its workforce. The MH370 Boeing 777 plane disappeared

ALASTAIR COOK needs to find some effective answers quickly if England are to avoid making a damaging false start to their World Cup preparations. After a 133-run trouncing against India in Cardiff, the hosts must hit back in the third one-day international

GARETH BREESE’S dream of bowing out in a Lord’s final lives on after Durham won yesterday’s Royal London Cup quarter-final against Yorkshire at Headingley by 31 runs. Mark Stoneman’s century provided the cornerstone of Durham’s 237 then after looking

ENGLAND will play four prestige friendlies against world champions Germany, Spain, Italy and France over the next two years. Football Association general secretary Alex Horne said the friendlies against teams who have won four out of last five

DURHAM are one step from Lord’s, where they won their first silverware in 2007, after ending Yorkshire’s dreams of the league and cup double yesterday. After the 31-run win at Headingley Durham will have to wait until after today’s last Royal London

ROY HODGSON insists Wayne Rooney’s bad-boy days are behind him, but the England manager has told the striker he is not bulletproof despite his appointment as captain. Hodgson made Rooney’s childhood dreams come true yesterday when he announced

LIVERPOOL are relishing the prospect of hosting reigning Champions League winners Real Madrid after the Reds were handed a glamorous return to the European stage. Five-times European champions Liverpool will face ten-times winners Real - as well

DON’T laugh – there really is an illness called Retired Husband Syndrome. It’s the wives who suffer from it, of course, when they’ve got their lives all nicely organised and then suddenly have to put up with a husband with no work, prowling the

WELL done to all those people raising oodles of money in the ice bucket challenge. But, you know, it’s quite possible to give to charity without being pictured doing it. Just a thought…

CHARLIE Bucket’s Grandpa Joe always seemed a bit of a dodgy character. Maybe he should have drowned in chocolate in Willie Wonka’s factory. He spent years in bed with Charlie’s other three grandparents, unable to get up, or contribute to the family

HOORAY for Kate Bush who’s banned the use of cameraphones from her current series of triumphant comeback concerts. “I’d much rather have contact with you,” the 56-year-old star told her fans, who readily agreed. Maybe she just thinks it’s rude

ROBERT and Amanda Stewart have released pictures of their 12-year-old son Dylan as he lying dying in hospital. He’d hanged himself having been bullied at his school. The Stewarts want to show bullies what they’ve done. They may feel remorseful.

BEAMISH, in County Durham, has been named the “The best place to learn about history” in The UK Our Way 2014 guide, which features the top UK destinations and attractions as voted for by children, for children. Launched by holiday park operator

CATHEDRAL bells, twittering birds and the occasional popping of champagne bottles punctuated the lines of the most famous love tragedy in the English language. With a backdrop of the fading late summer sun, Tuesday night’s performance of Romeo

Big School (BBC1, 9.30pm) MOST youngsters will feel its a little too early to be discussing a return to school, but the staff at Greybridge are ready and raring to go... and few of their fans will mind giving up a non-school night to catch up on

THE Globe's touring production filled the stage of the little Georgian Theatre, stretching the playing area into the normally unseen wings. Designer Jonathan Fensom’s set is a simple wooden structure, his costumes an eclectic mix of forties dress mixed

CONCERNS have been raised that the site of a Roman settlement dubbed the Pompeii of the North could be sold to developers. Binchester, just outside Bishop Auckland, County Durham, has some of Britain's best-preserved Roman remains, including a

AS we settle back with a coffee and a full cooked breakfast, the English Channel stretching before us, calm as a millpond under a blue sky, we briefly consider the rather more stressful trips we’ve taken that began with a plane or train. But this

THE countdown to the millionth finish of the Bupa Great North Run will start with a bang – the Big Bang to be precise.Charting the history of the region from the dawn of time, a creative team led by artistic director Bradley Hemmings will transform

TIME passes fast and, believe it or not, it is 50 years ago this year since the Rolling Stones played two shows at the Rialto Theatre in York as part of their 1964 UK tour. It is important that we keep a proper record of this great band and I am

Thank God for Archbishop John Sentamu’s fasting-andprayer campaign. Unlike M. Hawkins ((HAS, Aug 26), I believe we have to start somewhere to try to bring about peace in the world, especially the Middle- East. As a believer in a creator God

Dozens of low-flying oval shaped objects have been spotted in and around the Tilery estate area of Stockton. Most folk scramble, fry, boil or poach them. In Stockton, they fling them. Eggthrowing is usually reserved for election campaigns.

FOR more than a decade we have seen hospital services taken away from large communities like ours. Across England, people are being made to go to some vast regional hospital instead especially for accident and emergency. To promote this policy,

AS a member of The Society of Friends of King Richard III, I was pleased to learn that experts have finally proved that England’s last Plantagenet ruler was not the “weak” monarch with a hunchback and withered arm as vilely perpetuated by Tudor propagandists

FOR those who were at Durham Tees Valley Airport yesterday, to witness the fly-past of a Lancaster bomber, it was a day they will never forget. “Vera”, as the aircraft is affectionately known, had made her way from Canada to be at the North-East

AITOR KARANKA has vowed that Middlesbrough will be working up to ‘the last second’ of the transfer window to strengthen their squad. Boro left it late during the last transfer window to secure the signings of Lee Tomlin and Danny Graham in January

FIRST things first, huge congratulations to Newcastle United midfielder Jack Colback, who received his maiden call-up to the England squad yesterday. The 24-year-old’s selection for next Wednesday’s friendly with Norway and the following Monday

SUNDERLAND are confident of completing a loan deal for Inter Milan midfielder Ricardo Alvarez before the transfer window closes – and Adam Johnson has welcomed the competition the Argentinian will provide. Black Cats sporting director Lee Congerton

ALAN Pardew believes Jack Colback’s move from Sunderland to Newcastle United has played a part in the midfielder’s first call-up to the England squad. Colback was a surprise inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s squad for next Wednesday’s friendly with Norway

TWO teenagers carried out a prolonged rape attack on a young girl they had picked up by car minutes earlier, a court heard yesterday. Mark Anthony Wilson and Lewis Anthony Bates appeared to have only one thought in mind having succeeded in persuading

FOR many young men life is about getting a foot on the career ladder, having a laugh with friends and enjoying a drink and takeaway at the weekend. But Liam Todd feared he would miss out on life’s simple pleasures - until he learnt to control his

MUSIC lovers will have one less festival to choose from next year after a decision was taken to cancel a well-known North-East event which had failed to sell enough tickets to cover costs. The future of the Stockton Weekender, one of the mainstays

A KNIFEMAN who cut his former girlfriend across the face during a row over missing belongings was yesterday jailed for 15 months. Anthony Branighan, 32, had the blade in his hand when he put the woman in a bear-hug to stop her assaulting him, a

A NOTORIOUS shoplifter with almost 150 offences on his record was last night (Thursday, August 28) behind bars for pulling a knife on a store boss. Peter Ludgate threatened the manager of Lidl in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, when he was stopped trying

A TECHNOLOGY firm aims to create North-East jobs to continue its expansion. Kromek says it wants 90 workers to supplement its rapid growth. The firm, based at NetPark, in Sedgefield, County Durham, unveiled the plans after revealing year-on-year

A NORTH-EAST company providing online education tests has been bought by the UK’s largest school assessment firm. The Test Factory has been acquired by private equity-owned GL Education. The Northern Echo understands bosses are committed to

A WEEK after being missing from training and handing in two transfer requests, Luke James is back in the Hartlepool United fold. The striker was absent from last weekend’s first win of the season, a 2-1 triumph at Wimbledon, after not turning up

MOST hospitals in the region are given high marks today (Friday) in the first ever ‘league tables’ judging the food given to their patients.Three quarters score more than 90 per cent for the quality of the meals, with two in County Durham