Archive

  • Hard work pays off for GB's Abley

    SPENNYMOOR fighter Jamie Abley’s budding Taekwondo career has taken another step in the right direction after he was selected to represent Great Britain at the upcoming ETU European Under-21 Championships. Abley’s selection is all the more

  • Barbour Foundation makes £1m donation to child cancer fund

    A CHARITABLE foundation has donated £1m to a campaign to set up a specialist children’s cancer research facility in the North-East.Dame Margaret Barbour, chairman of South Shields-based global clothing brand Barbour, announced the major Barbour

  • Devolution will "do nothing for the North-East"

    THE region’s MP’s reacted angrily to David Cameron’s plans for a constitutional revolution after Scotland rejected independence – accusing him of a political fix. Labour MPs warned the plan – “English votes for English laws” – would strengthen

  • British do care about politics after all

    Winners David Cameron: The Prime Minister will not go down in history as the Conservative and Unionist leader who lost the Union. The result saved his own job, and yesterday's rapid move to create a parliament where only English votes on English

  • Car Torque .... with 80s pop star Nik Kershaw

    NIK Kershaw is the 80s pop star who stormed the charts with the likes of Wouldn’t It Be Good, The Riddle and I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of his first chart success, Nik is performing songs and telling tales

  • Police appeal over missing Keith Kennedy

    POLICE are trying to trace 52-year-old Keith Kennedy from Hartlepool. Mr Kennedy was last seen yesterday evening and his family say it is out of character for him not to return home or make contact. Mr Kennedy is described as 5ft 8ins tall,

  • Queen's message of reconciliation over Scottish referendum

    THE Queen has delivered a message of reconciliation in the wake of the Scottish referendum, urging people to unite in their "enduring love of Scotland" and expressing her belief they will come together to "work constructively for the future". In

  • Blackout aims to shine spotlight on art

    A BLACKOUT across Middlesbrough town centre is aiming to open people’s eyes to art with creations built from Reliant Robins rescued from a scrap heap and discarded VHS cassettes.‘Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark’ will see Middlesbrough

  • Full steam ahead at railway museum

    VISITORS to The National Railway Museum in Shildon were given a sneak preview of what’s in store for this weekend’s special tenth anniversary gala.Five guest engines at the museum blew large puffs of steam as part of the checks to ensure everything

  • Resident's anger over new homes in Barnard Castle

    MEMBERS of the public shouted in anger as they left a meeting of Durham County Council’s Planning Committee yesterday (Thursday, September 18).The residents of Barnard Castle were angered by the committee’s decision to grant planning permission

  • Sea front works to begin on stretch of North-East coast road

    A PROGRAMME of improvement works begin on a seafront road on a busy stretch of the North-East coast, on Monday (September 22).The roadworks are part of Sunderland City Council’s continuing regeneration of the adjoining sea fronts of Seaburn and

  • Darlington's newest soft play venue all set for grand opening

    A FORMER Art Deco cinema which has been brought back to life for the next generation is throwing its doors open to the public this weekend.The finishing touches have been made to The Majestic, an iconic 1930s building in Darlington, ready for its grand

  • Storm is feeling strong at Wales Open

    GRAEME STORM thinks he is well placed to record a strong finish at the Wales Open – provided he can maintain the standards set during the first two days. After starting Friday on level par, Storm made progress up the leaderboard at Celtic Manor

  • Man shattered leg testing gun

    A FIRM has been fined £80,000 after a worker’s leg bone was shattered while test firing a gun on a range in the North-East.The 46-year-old employee, from Hexham, was seriously injured when a metal bolt weighing 7kg ejected from the back of

  • Shrine is inspiration for artists

    ARTISTS are being offered a chance to showcase their designs in one of the region’s most prestigious settings.Four designs inspired by the shrine of St Cuthbert will be selected for display in Durham Cathedral’s new exhibition space being

  • Time running out to secure place in Redcar Half Marathon

    THE closing date for entries people wanting to take part in the Redcar Half Marathon is getting near the finishing line.Anyone wanting to take part in the run on Sunday, September 28, needs to register by Thursday 25 to get a place.As well as the half

  • Police move to new city centre police station

    NORTHUMBRIA Police have opened a new police station in the centre of Newcastle.The new station is at the top of Forth Banks, a short distance from the Central Railway Station and Times Square.It is open 24 hours a day and is the base for over 600 officers

  • Careers advice for students from MP

    YOUNG people in north Durham have been getting careers advice from their local MP.Pat Glass, who represents the Consett and Crook areas in the House of Commons, met students from Derwentside College this afternoon. (Friday, September 19)Michelle Dale,

  • Stan Laurel letter sells after frenzied bidding

    A LETTER written by Stan Laurel to the wife of one of his boyhood friends in Tynemouth has gone under the hammer for £1,400.The note, sent from the comedy legend’s home in Santa Monica, California in 1960, had only been expected to make between

  • Derelict hospital will not be replaced with new homes

    A DERELICT hospital that has sat empty for the past decade will continue to decay after a planning application to build homes on the land has been rejected.Gleeson Homes applied for permission to demolish the existing buildings and build 49 new houses

  • Siblings set to turn run-down pub into community hub

    A BROTHER and sister have pledged to turn a run-down pub into a community hub. Enterprising landlords John and Donna Price will re-open The Mowden Hotel in Darlington later this month. They hope to transform the run-down pub into a place where

  • Swashbuckling students launch sustainable transport campaign

    YOUNG buccaneers got a taste of life on the ocean waves as they launched a campaign to promote sustainable transport.Children from Red Hall Primary School, in Darlington, and Cockton Hill Primary School, in Bishop Auckland, dressed up in their finest

  • Cabaret meets bump and grind for festival performance

    CABARET will meet bump and grind when pensioners and youngsters fuse musical styles to perform at the Festival of Thrift next week.Self-proclaimed old-time music hall artiste turned rap superstar Ida Barr is working with a diverse group of all ages to

  • War memories go n show at Kirkleatham Museum

    THE lives of residents involved in the First World War are being showcased as part of an exhibition at Kirkleatham Museum.Travelling exhibit, Remembering Our War, looks at residents of the Tees Valley a century ago and recreates their war thanks to research

  • Port launches apprentice drive

    A NORTH-EAST port is looking for five new apprentices.The Port of Tyne wants youngsters for cruise, ferry and cargo operations, and warehousing work.Bosses say cruise and ferry workers will unload freight and help load ship stores, with cargo focusing

  • Five things to watch in the Premier League this weekend

    John Sunter highlights five things to watch out for in this weekend's Premier League action not involving the North-East sides FRANK LAMPARD MEETS HIS MAKER Easily the game of the weekend is at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon as Chelsea travel

  • Alex Salmond resigns after Scottish independence defeat

    ALEX Salmond has dramatically fallen on his sword after Scotland voted decisively to reject his dream of independence and to remain part of the United Kingdom. As David Cameron held out the promise of a "new and fair" constitutional settlement

  • The fallen of Thornley remembered

    SCHOOL children of a former pit village today (Friday, September 19) marked the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War by laying individual crosses for each of the soldiers from the community who died in the conflict. A special service

  • Charlie McCann on the weekend racing

    BetVictor are paying five places on Saturday afternoon’s Silver and Gold Cup at Ayr, giving punters the best possible in chance in a pair of races that look as difficult as ever to try and find the winner of. David O’Meara’s Watchable heads the

  • Delivering real change in the north

    THE people of Scotland have spoken and we welcome their rejection of independence. But there can be no doubt that the referendum has been the catalyst for a significant change across the United Kingdom. Our complacent political leaders have

  • University honoured for retaining its students

    A UNIVERSITY which recruits almost half its undergraduates from working class backgrounds has been named the best in Britain for retaining its students.Teesside was crowned University of the Year for Student Retention in the annual Good University Guide

  • Air tax breaks for Scotland could hit North-East airport

    NEW tax powers for Scotland could threaten the future success of a vital part of North-East infrastructure, airport bosses have warned. Newcastle Airport is lobbying politicians at the upcoming Party Conferences to prevent Alex Salmond from seizing

  • MP returns to hometown to politically engage with students

    AN MP has returned to his hometown the day after the Scottish referendum to encourage young students to engage in politics.Greg Clark MP, Minister of State, spoke future voters when he visited Nunthorpe Academy Sixth Form today (Friday, September 19).

  • Hairdresser takes on Brownlee triathlon challenge

    A HAIRDRESSER is set to line up alongside Olympic medallists Jonny and Alistair Brownlee to raise funds in memory of her father. Fiona Curry, 31, who co-owns Hairport, in Thirsk Market Place, will swim 750metres, cycle 26kms and run 5.5kms in the

  • Funding for gas safety work

    A HOUSING provider has been given a £5,000 grant for gas safety work in the homes of elderly and vulnerable tenants in Durham.Four Housing’s Care and Repair Service has received the Gas Safe Charity funding through the Foundations Independent

  • Residents' fight to save their doctors surgery

    A SPECIAL meeting is being held for campaigners to question NHS England over the future of a Middlesbrough doctor’s surgery.Residents, councillors and their local MP have joined forces in an attempt to save Hemlington Surgery from closure, which

  • Durham boosted as Bell is ruled out of one-day final

    DURHAM received an early boost ahead of today’s Royal London Cup final when Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell was ruled out with a broken toe yesterday afternoon.Bell broke his toe during England’s third One-Day International with India last month

  • Open day at Darlington upcycling business, Totes Adore

    AN upcycling business will throw its doors open for visitors this weekend to see how they turn scrap into quirky home accessories.Karen Riley and Donna Feeney set up their business, Totes Adore, last year selling clocks, tableware, cheeseboards and drizzle

  • Premier League Darts returns to Newcastle

    THE 2015 Premier League Darts season will visit Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena on Thursday, May 7.The night will be the penultimate week of the Premier League's group stage, before London's O2 Arena hosts the semi-finals and final on May 21

  • Tuilagi primed for first Newcastle Falcons start

    DEAN RICHARDS is looking forward to seeing Alesana Tuilagi in full flow after handing the Samoan winger his first Newcastle Falcons start in Sunday’s home game with reigning Aviva Premiership champions Northampton Saints. Having only arrived in

  • Affordable homes being delivered in Middlesbrough

    WORK has started at three Middlesbrough sites to provide more than 50 affordable homes.Erimus Housing has started work at the site of the former Fulbeck House flats in Netherfields, which were demolished in 2009, as well as two Park End sites, Penrith

  • Croft hosts action-packed race weekend

    THIS weekend sees Croft Circuit host the finale to the Michelin Clio Cup Race Series and possibly announce a famous name winner of the Protyre Formula Renault Championship. The 2.1-mile circuit in North Yorkshire is a regular fixture on the British

  • Cancer charity night in Chilton a hit

    NINE singers from across the region teamed up with a band to perform a charity gig.Trish Greensmith and Ian Slater, who perform as Chyrelle Addams and Brandon James, enlisted fellow singers and band The Hunter to stage the event at Chilton and Windlestone

  • Pool closed

    THE swimming pool at the Education Village, in Salters Lane South, Darlington, will be closed until around 5pm tonight (Friday, September 19) due to soiling from a child’s nappy. The incident happened yesterday (Thursday, September 18) outside of

  • Soldiers brave River Swale for official photograph

    A DETACHMENT of soldiers have marked the first time they have been together for a decade, following operational commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan, by posing for an official photograph in the River Swale, in Richmond.Richmond-based photographer Paul

  • Free seminar to help small businesses

    A FREE seminar is taking place to show people how to boost business with online trading.People from small to medium businesses (SME) in North Yorkshire are being invited to the seminar in Stokesley on Wednesday at the Springboard Business Centre in the

  • Irresponsible dog owners targeted by new warden

    DOG owners who fail to clear up after their pets are being targeted in a new £40,000 clampdown following a wave of complaints from residents. Hambleton District Council has employed a dedicated dog warden to work in some of the worst dog fouling

  • Mother of three hopes for glory in modellling contest

    A MOTHER of three hopes to strut her stuff to victory in one of Britain’s biggest model contests this weekend. Helen Kealey, from Spennymoor, beat thousands of hopefuls to land a place in the final of Miss British Isles.She often thought of modelling

  • Wembley selected as host for Euro 2020 final

    ENGLAND has won the right to host the final and semi-finals of Euro 2020. London's Wembley Stadium will stage the climax of the European Championship, the first time a major football tournament has been held in England since Euro 96. UEFA's

  • Forrest says that West clash won't be anticlimax

    Shildon manager Gary Forrest says that Saturday’s local derby at West Auckland won’t be an “after the Lord Mayor’s show” performance from the Railwaymen. Shildon stunned Whitby from two leagues above them in the FA Cup in midweek to clinch a tie

  • Moors 100 per cent away record faces big test

    Spennymoor’s 100 per cent away record faces its toughest test yet when they go to Warrington on Saturday. Moors have won five away games this season – at Tadcaster and Bishop Auckland in the FA Cup, and Ossett Town, Padiham and Brighouse in the

  • Volunteers needed for lifesaving scheme

    VOLUNTEERS are needed to become first responders in a North Yorkshire town. The Stokesley Community First Responders scheme is looking to recruit more lifesavers. The scheme began operating in Stokesley in March and its volunteers are on hand

  • Wine shop plan for old garage to be recommended for approval

    PLANS to convert a disused garage into a wine shop look set to win approval despite objections from residents.Lanchester Wine Cellars want to take over Maiden Law Garage, in Lanchester Road, Maiden Law, near Lanchester, which has been empty since 2006

  • New academy opens early years centre

    A SCHOOL making a fresh start as an academy has made the first in a series of planned improvements.Rosa Street Primary School, in Spennymoor, County Durham, converted to academy status on September 1 under the management of Cleves Cross Learning Trust.The

  • Preparations for Washington Heritage and Community Festival

    PREPARATIONS are underway for a heritage and community festival at the weekend.The annual Washington Heritage and Community Festival will return to Albany Park tomorrow.The event will include a full schedule of activities ranging from musical group performances

  • Darlington awarded three points

    Darlington have been awarded three points by Evo-Stik League officials following their abandoned game with Warrington Town on the first day of the season. An injury to the referee after half an hour’s play led to Warrington boss Shaun Reid insisting

  • Plans for over 55s flats raise objections from local people

    PLANS for a residential development aimed at the over-55s have been recommended for approval by council officials, despite attracting a large number of complaints from people living nearby.Concerns about the proposed development of 46 flats on wasteland

  • Darlington playgroup celebrates 40th birthday

    A DARLINGTON playgroup celebrated its 40th birthday in style with a visit from Peppa Pig and Bob the Builder. A party was held at Holy Trinity Youth Centre, in Pierremont Road to celebrate the 40th birthday of Pierremont Playgroup.Around a dozen of the

  • ECB set dangerous precedent by charging skipper

    THE England and Wales Cricket Board are opening up a huge can of worms by levelling a racism charge at Yorkshire’s Andrew Gale. The County Championshipwinning captain has become the first county cricketer to be charged with racism after an altercation

  • Warwickshire give Bell time to face Durham

    WARWICKSHIRE will wait as long as possible before deciding whether to risk England batsman Ian Bell in tomorrow’s Royal London Cup final against Durham at Lord’s. Although he hasn’t yet appeared in the competition the Bears want to give him every

  • Yorkshire will back Gale

    YORKSHIRE have confirmed that they are fully behind Andrew Gale in his fight against a charge of racism from the ECB’s Cricket Disciplinary Commission. The White Rose skipper has been charged with a racism offence following his part in an incident

  • FA await Euro 2020 decision on Wembley

    ENGLAND are on the verge of winning their bid to host the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 but Scotland’s campaign to host group stages could be torpedoed by rival bids from both Wales and Ireland. The Football Association’s bid for Wembley to

  • Dyke to return ‘gift’ watch to Brazilian FA

    FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION chairman Greg Dyke has confirmed he was given a £16,400 watch by the Brazilian FA during the World Cup but had no idea of its value and will return the gift. The heads of all 32 qualifying countries and FIFA’s executive committee

  • Solskjaer leaves Cardiff

    CARDIFF manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he left the Championship club because of a “difference in philosophy” with owner Vincent Tan. The Norwegian’s departure after only eight and a half months at Cardiff was announced in a club statement yesterday

  • GSK fined £279m by China

    CHINA has fined UK pharmaceuticals firm GlaxoSmithKline £297m after a court found it guilty of bribery.The record penalty follows allegations the drug firm paid out bribes to doctors and hospitals in order to have their products promoted.GSK'

  • Baines hails right balance

    Final score: Everton 4 Wolfsburg 1 EVERTON’S return to European football after five years away was marked with a fine 4-1 win over Wolfsburg. Steven Naismith’s deflected shot, Seamus Coleman’s goal, Leighton Baines’ penalty and Kevin Mirallas

  • Is life too loud?

    A CITY in China has introduced pedestrian lanes on pavements just for people using mobile phones. Brilliant. The lanes look quite small so, with luck, all the mobile phone users not looking where they’re going will bump into each other and fall

  • It’s all about the booze

    SORRY if you’re already worrying yourself witless about your departing 18-year-old – but in York, the university and the students’ union hired a private ambulance to look after new students as they drank themselves stupid in Freshers’ Week. Reassuring

  • Backchat: How to keep everyone happy

    DEAR SHARON, LIKE most men, I regard shopping as a chore – something to get over with as quickly as possible. Over the years, I’ve become quite efficient. I write a list, I get only what’s on the list. I know my local supermarket like the back

  • The tale of a born survivor

    Piers Morgan’s Life Stories: Bear Grylls (ITV, 9pm) EDWARD Michael Grylls is the final celebrity to chat to Piers Morgan in this three-part series. Born in 1974, to politician Sir Michael Grylls and Lady Sarah Grylls, his nickname Bear was given

  • Kids play at Arc with Presto and Monty

    PEACEFUL Lion Productions presents the children’s live show Hey, Presto! on stage at Stockton's Arc this Saturday. Hey Presto is a children’s play about friendship and adventure with just a little bit of mischief and is a new production based on

  • The Pierces: Live at The Sage, Gateshead

    IT may have taken over a decade, but success finally arrived for sisters Allison and Catherine Pierce thanks to their 2011 release You and I crashing into the UK Top Five and proving that hard work and quality songwriting still count for something

  • City for celebration

    WE mulled over a number of chic European city locations for our girls’ only short break to celebrate my sister’s birthday. Paris was discussed, then Rome, we toyed with Budapest, Krakov and Barcelona. Then someone suggested York, having seen some

  • Three cheers for florist who stood up to council

    I BELIEVE Rob Metcalfe, owner of Claire Metcalfe Florists, Bondgate, Darlington, deserves a medal, or at the very least a very big thank you, from all of us in Darlington – retailers and shoppers alike. Without his outspoken onslaught against the

  • Devolution

    AS a citizen of the UK, I don’t like the fact that we allowed the devolution debate to reach the point where one of the home countries has voted on whether to become independent. A lot of the reasons behind it come from the continued centralisation

  • Nurses’ pay

    THE Government’s failure to honour a one per cent pay rise across all nursing staff is both divisive and disrespectful to some of the hardest working and most caring individuals in the country. It is divisive because it confuses pay progression

  • Cost of petrol

    MANY of us have noticed the price of petrol and diesel has stayed obstinately high at about 127p to 129p per litre for many months now. However, the trading price of crude oil is about $97 to $99 dollars per barrel, about 10 to 12 per cent less

  • Life of an MP

    BANG on cue, Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman calls for more regional powers, no doubt without a vote (Echo, Sept 17). The MPs’ expenses scandal raised the public’s blood pressure to boiling point. We also have undemocratic all women shortlists

  • Bridge over troubled waters

    BY the time you read this, one of the most curious corners of the North- East may be the last upholder of the Union. This honour could fall to the Union suspension bridge, which spans the Tweed and crosses the border in the middle of countryside

  • Scots firms lead No vote shares rise

    COMPANIES with Scottish links led the FTSE 100 Index higher as a relief rally took hold on financial markets following the rejection of independence.Shares in Royal Bank of Scotland surged 3% while energy provider SSE, Glasgow-based engineer Weir and

  • A united call for fairness

    WHILE the people of Scotland were voting on whether they would be better off living in an independent nation, here in the North-East of England there has been a coming together of some of the North’s biggest daily newspapers behind a united call.

  • North-East business leaders react to the No vote

    THE North East Chairman of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Graham Robb has called for greater economic power for the region, following the result of the referendum on Scottish Independence. This morning, newspapers from the North East, North West

  • Scotland result to prompt constitutional shake-up

    Scotland's rejection of independence has saved David Cameron from going down in history as the Prime Minister who presided over the break-up of the United Kingdom, and has seen off any immediate threat to his position. But wrangling over the UK's

  • Defeat puts Salmond's future in doubt

    Alex Salmond's independence dream is over - but has Scotland seen the last of this most committed of campaigners? Mr Salmond insists he will serve Scotland in whatever capacity voters choose, but the No victory in the referendum could see doubts

  • Poyet backs Alvarez to improve after challenging start

    GUS POYET has backed Ricardo Alvarez to be a big success in the Premier League, but admits he subjected the Sunderland winger to a baptism of fire in last weekend’s draw with Tottenham. Alvarez made his Black Cats debut a fortnight after joining

  • Karanka: Abella will come back stronger after damaging ACL

    MIDDLESBROUGH head coach Aitor Karanka is confident Damia Abella will come back stronger after the right-back was ruled out for six months. Abella was stretchered off in the second half of Boro’s 1-0 win at Cardiff City on Tuesday night and scans

  • Law firm supports pawnbroker buyout

    A LAW firm has supported a private equity company on a pawnbroker management buyout.Muckle, in Newcastle, worked with NorthEdge Capital on the acquisition and investment into Ramsdens.The move came after Ramsdens owner and chairman, Stewart Smith, agreed

  • Military vehicle staff strike warning over pay

    WORKERS at a Ministry of Defence vehicle repair firm could strike over wages. Staff at Defence Support Group (DSG), which has a base in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, have rejected a one per cent pay increase. Unite the union says members

  • Gordon's Alive! Brown back from the dead

    From a figure of fun among the Conservatives to a saviour of the union principles they stand for, Gordon Brown's political life has been rejuvenated by the referendum campaign. The Labour former prime minister appeared destined for a quiet life

  • SNP concedes defeat in Aberdeenshire

    SNP politicians have conceded defeat in the independence referendum in First Minister Alex Salmond's Aberdeenshire constituency. With a turnout of 87.2%, a total of 180,045 votes cast, Sir Malcolm Bruce, Liberal Democrat MP for Gordon, put the

  • PM set to announce new powers for Scotland

    David Cameron is set to announce plans to "protect and enhance" the interests of English voters, as more powers are handed over to Scotland in the wake of its rejection of independence. Close Cameron ally Michael Gove indicated that the package

  • Scotland says 'No' to independence

    Scotland has rejected independence, despite the Yes campaign winning a majority in the largest city. While Glasgow voted in favour of independence, the margin of victory was not large enough to give Alex Salmond and his campaign the momentum they