EIGHT points from ten games – as well as a hefty cup defeat – and it’s not been much of a start to the season for Hartlepool United. And today, as third-bottom Pools meet basement dwellers Carlisle at Victoria Park, Colin Cooper admits he’s, as yet
ALAN Henning was known for his helpful kindness - a kindness that killed him. Within an hour of crossing the border into Syria in an aid convoy, his killers from IS swooped: he was singled out, separated from the others and taken hostage. Friends
BRITISH Muslims have led condemnation of the murder of British hostage Alan Henning as a "despicable and offensive act" which showed the Islamic State jihadists who killed him had "no regard for Islam". Imams and other influential figures had joined
ATHLETICS enthusiasts will have to fight it out with Christmas shoppers for parking spaces when the 109th North-East Cross Country Championships are held on Newcastle Town Moor on Saturday, December 13. Parking facilities at Exhibition Park will
Bishop Auckland comfortably won through to the first round proper of the FA Vase with a 4-0 win over Birtley at Heritage Park tonight. Jonny Butler put them into the lead after 9 minutes with a header from Glen Lane's cross, and on 27 minutes
A VIDEO apparently showing the beheading of British hostage Alan Henning, who was kidnapped by IS militants, has been released on the internet. The footage appears to show the 47-year-old aid worker, who was kidnapped last December in Syria by
JACKSON Browne is one of those performers who I knew existed, but had actually never heard perform. It’s taken fully 14 albums for me to get around to it, but it has been worth the wait. While Browne was actually born in Germany, he moved to
Arc Day remains the highlight of the Flat racing calendar for me and we have a wonderful weekend of racing to look forward to in Britain, Ireland but especially France. We start at Longchamp and since 1994 three-year-olds have been successful
The pressure on Alan Pardew intensified on Monday as Newcastle went down at Stoke and despite Mike Ashley seemingly giving his backing to the Magpies manager, he’s just 2/5 courtesy of BetVictor to be the next Premier League boss to depart. Pardew
DANCERS from Darlington fought off stiff competition from around the world to waltz away with an impressive haul of trophies.The 12-strong team from the Dimensions Dance Academy, based at Hummersknott School, travelled to Glasgow to take part in the UDO
IT is not surprising that David Cameron has dragged us into another war (Echo, Sept 30). I bet if his son, or Tony Blair's sons, had been in the frontline this would not have happened since Mr Cameron got rebuffed by the people last time he tried
I BELIEVE we tax payers fund Quango type organisations which talk a good fight yet have little real punch, and no incentive to succeed at their appointed task. We cannot be protected from the grossly ignorant onslaught of nuisance telephone calls.
AM disappointed to read that parish councils are objecting to the Windy Bank wind farm proposals near Woodland. Surely our parish councils are aware that there are a number of their residents who are supporting the wind farm for various reasons
IN his column, Peter Mullen asks does no one believe in God (Echo, Sept 23)? I remember listening to a Rabbi being interviewed on radio many years ago. As a 12-year-old in a concentration camp, he witnessed the death of his father and was forced
I WOULD like to say how much I enjoyed the Alzheimer’s Society memory walks that took place in Teesside and County Durham. It was the first time I had visited Stewart Park in Middlesbrough and Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street and I have to say
MAY I through your letters page please remind everyone that next year is the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. On Sunday, September 14 I was in Durham at the dedication of the Durham Light Infantry memorial. Unfortunately, I missed this
PRESSURE from decent minded individuals and groups has prompted a crackdown on the payday loans company Wonga by the Financial Conduct Authority. Money lenders like Wonga, and other predatory “ legal loan sharks “, are seeing a fall in their profits
A WOMAN with terminal cancer today fulfilled her wish of marrying her fiancé of more than 30 years at a poignant ceremony at the hospice where she is being cared for. June Webster, 60, of Sacriston in County Durham, tied the knot with long-term
A MAN who was caught with a huge stash of prescription medication and illegal drugs "had every pam but Pam Ayres", his barrister told a court.Daniel Boatwright imported diazepam, nitrazepam, bromazepam and clonazepam as well as codeine, morphine
SITCOM star Su Pollard is starring in a North-East pantomime this Christmas.The Hi-de-Hi actress is playing the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Sunderland Empire, alongside Eastenders and Dancing on Ice star, Matt Lapinskas as the
LOCAL produce was on the menu at a North-East museum for the launch of this year’s Taste Durham Month.The festival, which runs throughout October, is a month-long celebration of Durham produce, showcased by some of the county’s finest eateries
LOCAL government leaders from across North Yorkshire have been warned that young people are becoming an endangered species in rural areas – and agreed to support a campaign to try to reverse the trend.Richmondshire District Council leader Cllr John
HUNDREDS of callers were unable to get hold of the police because of a fault with its telephone system this week.The problem hit people trying to contact Durham Constabulary’s control room on Thursday (October 2) on the non-emergency number, 101
A FASHION show to raise cash for a Help for Heroes recovery centre is being repeated after being hailed a resounding success last year.Help for Heroes-run recovery centre Phoenix House in Catterick Garrison will host its second catwalk event on Tuesday
PLACES are still available on a series of family history courses.Experts from Durham County Council’s record office are offering to show people how to use their archives and resources to trace their family tree.Beginners courses will be held on
THE firefighter leading the investigation into the cause of the huge fire at the historic Crathorne Hall has said he is confident it was accidental. View photos from the fire at Crathorne Hall Alan Bell, station master at North Yorkshire
STUDENTS are being offered lifesaving training as part of a new campaign to highlight the dangers of drinking near open water.Don't Drink And Drown, the latest campaign by the Royal Lifesaving Society, which was launched at the University of York.It
SCHOOLBOYS will show they have all the right moves when they perform at a major dance event next month.About 17 boys at Sedgefield Community College in County Durham have been working on an energetic routine ahead of the Boyz Moves Platform in Dance City
PUPILS were joined by their parents and teachers to release 400 balloons as part of their school project on colour.Evergreen Primary School, in Bishop Auckland, held a festival of colour, which also involved a colour run on the playing fields.The children
THE family of a much-loved 999 control room chief who died in a road crash have told of their approval of a decision not to prosecute the driver involved.Teesside assistant coroner Malcolm Donnelly, who heard the inquest into the death of Durham woman
VILLAGERS are celebrating after successfully raising more than £10,000 to save their grade two listed church.Members of St Andrew’s Church in Bolam, near Bishop Auckland, needed to raise the cash to replace the 19th century church floor which
A TOWN council and country estate are in battle over a Bronze Age bracelet that has been in the guardianship of the council since the 1960s when the last private owner of the house gave it on loan for mayors to wear. Richmond Town Council has had
HISTORIANS are coming from as far afield as France and Taiwan to a conference marking the legacy of the Tees during the period of Victorian cities and boom towns.Keynote speakers at the event include world leading historians Professor Sir Rick Trainor
AN MP and a Crime Commissioner were given a brief experience of the difficulties experienced by people with sight loss when they walked blindfolded through a city centre.North Durham MP Kevan Jones and Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg both walked
A NORTH-EAST doctor has won a national award at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Awards.Dr Julia Blagburn, senior lead clinical pharmacist for older people’s medicine and community health at the Newcastle Hospitals, won the clinical pharmacist of
HUNDREDS of children will join forces with police to keep an eye on their community.Primary schools in and around Spennymoor have signed up to the new Junior Neighbourhood Watch scheme.About 300 children will work with Spennymoor neighbourhood police
MORE than 50 firefighters tackled a large moorland blaze in the Yorkshire Dales.The fire covered about a square kilometre of heather on Ellerton Moor, near Reeth.Smoke from the blaze was blown down Swaledale and could be seen and smelt for several miles.The
A MAN who assaulted two club officials - leaving one with three missing teeth - was yesterday jailed for mine months.Terence Lee punched concert secretary Andrew Mather after he asked the 48-year-old to stop dancing in the aisles.Club steward Alan Gray
DISCOURTEOUS drivers are being taught parking etiquette through a new poster campaign designed by students just old enough to get behind the wheel of a car.The warning poster by Rebecca Pearey, 17, will be shown across Teesside in a bid to raise awareness
A ONE-TIME gangster smashed up his home while suffering a mental breakdown because of his life in violent crime, a court heard.Paul Lyons - jailed in 1998 for conspiracy to murder, and part of a prison riot months later - hurt his wife in the June mayhem.As
CHANCELLOR George Osborne has confirmed he is looking at plans to devolve more of the transport budget to North-East local enterprise partnerships.Mr Osborne was probed on the issue by Graham Robb, North-East chairman of the Institute of Directors (IoD
A SCHOOL will host its second annual culture festival starting on Monday (October 6).Durham Johnston School’s Festival of Culture 2014 will feature visits from poet Daljit Nagra, author Meg Rosoff, writing partnership Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom
SPORTS Direct has bought a further stake in high street store Debenhams.The firm, founded by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, has taken a 4.60 per cent stake, worth about £33m.The move means Mr Ashley has increased his interest in Debenhams,
THE decomposed body of a man convinced he would be killed by demons was found in a drain almost two months after he went missing.The last time Rimpal Kumar was seen alive was on August 25 last year when he went to repair a conservatory he had helped build
A DRAMA group is fine-tuning its latest musical, Annie, before it takes to the stage towards the end of this month. Rehearsals are drawing to a close for Northallerton Musical Theatre Company’s forthcoming production, which will be staged at The
MULTI-million pound projects including building a new swimming pool have been announced for south Stockton.The most eye-catching proposal is a planned new swimming pool, gym, and customer service centre at Ingleby Barwick.A total of £3.2m has already
Amanda Ryan discusses Harold Pinter's Betrayal with Steve Pratt THE talk is of affairs and why Harold Pinter’s 1970s play Betrayal needs to stay in the decade in which it is set. “You can’t change it – there are too many references. Affairs are
Viv Hardwick looks at the latest way that combining movies and theatre is proving popular A NEW interactive screening of the Disney phenomenon Frozen is set to bring a lot of sparkle to the region next year. Sing-a-long-a Frozen is the new
STILL the festival juggernaut rolls on, with Allen Valley Folk Festival taking place this weekend, with a vibrant line-up of star-turns including Michael Chapman, Will Pound, Martin Stephenson, Rory MacLeod, George Welch and Stewart Hardy, Johnny Flynn
Steve Pratt discovers the appeal of turning Greek tragedy Antigone into a gangland story and chats to actors Savannah Gordon-Liburd and Mark Monero THE first night of York-based Pilot theatre company's The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner
APPARENTLY it wasn't the brakes I could hear squealing as the Pacer train slowed down as it pulled into stations, but the axles. Inaccuracies in stories about trains are usually spotted pretty quickly such is the passion they invoke.On Tuesday I spent
Viv Hardwick talks to Royal Shakespeare Company actor Mark Arends about becoming a Bard villain that very few have seen in the flesh THERE is something different about The Two Gentleman Of Verona that quickens the heart of any Shakespeare fan..
DARLINGTON seems to be on the side of the Angel. The Theatre Hullabaloo play for children aged ten years and above opens its autumn tour at the Dolphin Centre’s Central Hall next week just as a heaven-sent opportunity has been announced to give the
ED SHEERAN is sitting in his dressing room in Melbourne Cricket Ground. In the background, Tom Jones can be heard soundchecking. "We're singing the Prince song, Kiss, together," says Sheeran, "but we've already rehearsed that." The night before
TERRIBLE things happen in Soapland. Murder, adultery, robbery, assault, car crashes, and fights are all part of daily life. But now something truly horrific and totally unexpected takes place – Dreary Deirdre throws a trifle at the living room wall
A LITTLE bit of comedy on a Saturday afternoon does you the world of good, especially when it’s free. Funny Way To Be comedy organiser, Peter Dixon, was at The Witham’s open day on Saturday to provide a free taste of what he’s got in store for his
Have I Got News for You (BBC1, 9pm) FRIDAY nights never seem quite the same without HIGNFY, and I’m sure that conspiracy theorists could have the Queen purring down the phone about the programme missing the great Scottish referendum debate.
MARRIAGE proposals are rarely found at live music concerts, but that's what exactly happened on Nik Kershaw's Me Myself and I tour at Stockton Arc. An enjoyable Q&A section which had the audience posing questions to Kershaw saw one young man
THIS week, I have discovered that I am a velologist. An accidental velologist, but a velologist all the same. I have some examples of my velology in front of me – they're round, the size of a drinks coaster with perforations around the edge, and
FEW industries have attracted more public outrage in recent years than financial services – and rightly so. They have sold insurance policies that customers had not asked for, fixed bank rates, and paid underperforming bosses the kind of bonuses
A SERIES of consultation meetings are to be held into North Yorkshire’s ambitious plans for extra care housing in every major town in the county.The county council has developed a new strategy for extra care schemes which has been designed to meet
ONE of the world’s most celebrated art competitions will open in the North-East this weekend, giving art lovers the rare chance to come face-to-face with the finest in portraiture. The Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens will open its doors tomorrow
CANCER campaigners have backed a petition to save a North-East haematology ward.Allison White, founder of Great Aycliffe Cancer Support in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is urging people to support a campaign to prevent the closure of the eight-bedroom
A POPULAR farm facility has been closed by a Dales school because it no longer had to resources to carry it on.Wensleydale School in Leyburn introduced the farm in 2009 as a means of introducing children to animals and agricultural work.But the school
CAMPAIGNERS who fought a proposal to open a children’s home in their village are again celebrating after an appeal against a council’s refusal of the plan was thrown out.In January, Durham County Council refused permission for Lilac House,
A REVIEW into urgent and emergency care services across County Durham and Darlington is being carried out, it has emerged.Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) across the region say the ambitious plans will improve urgent and emergency care for patients.The
A MASTERCHEF finalist and former nurse is set to run the Yorkshire Marathon to raise funds for a charity which supports people suffering inflammation of the brain.Sara Danesin Medio, who gave up her York Hospital job and launched the city’s first
A MAN has appeared before magistrates charged with dangerous driving.Peter Leon O’Neill, of Estoril Road, Darlington, is alleged to have driven dangerously through the town on Wednesday, June 11.On the same date, the 21-year-old is accused of drink-driving
A RELUCTANT courier, said to be heavily pressurised by criminals he was in debt to, was caught bringing almost £4.5m worth of heroin to the North-East.Liam Kerrigan was jailed for three years and four months after a large drugs consignment was found
A DEPARTMENT store hopes visitors will flock through the doors when they celebrate North Yorkshire’s farming heritage.Four live sheep will be brought into the men’s department of Barkers in Northallerton on Saturday, October 11, when there
A POLICE officer is using her international sporting background to connect with young people in the North-East. Former England netball player Kelly Martin, the neighbourhood inspector for Stanley in County Durham, is working as mentor and coach
RESIDENTS in a quiet North-East neighbourhood have told of their shock after a dog poo bin exploded, causing a loud bang. The incident, which drew dozens of people out of their homes on Wednesday (October 1) evening, happened in Barmpton Lane,
THREE North-East universities have been rated among the top 10 in the UK for offering the best quality of student life.While Loughborough University topped the poll, followed by Bath, Durham University was placed third and Newcastle fourth.Northumbria
COMEDIAN Marcus Brigstocke will visit the region twice in an autumn UK tour.The comic, a regular on the BBC on radio programmes such as The Now Show and Just A Minute, is touring now with his show Je m’accuse – I am Marcus.He will play Harrogate
A BAKE Off-style competition had the professionals and novices running for their pans at RAF Leeming.The base hosted the contest to raise cash for the RAF Association’s Wings Week Appeal and bakers from across the station were invited to take part.Judges
A DRUG addict who found himself in the wrong town at the wrong time was jailed for nine months for trying to break into a house.David Taylor tried the handle of a door when he was "stoned" but did not go inside, Teesside Crown Court was told.Taylor
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CHARITY fundraising was child’s play for a city shopping centre.The Little Bishops Play Palace, a play facility in the Prince Bishops shopping centre, Durham, staged a coffee morning for parents and free play session for children in aid of Macmillan
CHARITY bosses have called on the Government to share profits from its Northern Rock sale to help regional organisations.The Voluntary Organisations’ Network North-East (VONNE) says good causes are losing out and has urged Chancellor George Osborne
Whitley Bay appear at this stage of the FA Vase for the first time in eight years when they take on South Shields at Hillheads today. Since they beat Morpeth at this second qualifying round stage in 2006, Whitley have won the competition three
Spennymoor start an important week when they travel to Northwich Victoria in the EvoStik League on Saturday. The next three games could shape Moors’ attitude towards the rest of the season, as they face Scarborough in the league on Tuesday, then
Newton Aycliffe manager Allan Oliver says that he is looking for a positive reaction from his players in their local derby against Shildon at Moore Lane today. Aycliffe are currently fourth bottom of the table with one win in the last seven games
FURIOUS farmers have called on authorities to 'get serious' about tackling the blight of rural fly-tipping, after two bags of building waste was dumped on their land. Unscrupulous contractors illegally dumped up to a tonne of waste on farmland
A DARLINGTON youngster fulfilled every young football fan's dream when he walked out as a mascot before a Champions League match. Thomas Black, eight, was one of the official player escorts before Manchester City's clash with Roma, at the Etihad
A FARM-BASED nursery on the outskirts of Darlington has opened a new extension which is designed to prepare children for school by creating a classroom environment.The timber-framed extension, which has been named the ‘Learning Lodge’, has
A NORTH-EAST engine maker has been named overall winner at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Manufacturing Excellence Awards.Cummins, in Darlington, picked up the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Award.Des McMenamin, Cummins
THE life of a farm labourer’s son from a Darlington village who became the Bishop of London will be celebrated at an exhibition in Cleasby. John Robinson was born in Cleasby, Darlington, in 1650 and studied at Oxford University. After his degree
MORE than 30 firefighters are tackling a large moorland blaze in the Yorkshire Dales. Around a square kilometre of heather on Ellerton Moor, near Reeth, is on fire. The blaze was reported on Thursday afternoon. North Yorkshire Fire and
Nathan Fisher was last night handed a free transfer by Darlington. He was put on the transfer list soon after the beginning of the season, but there have been no takers for the former Gateshead striker, who has fallen down the pecking order at
CLINTON Morrison could line up for Hartlepool United against Carlisle tomorrow; alternatively the out of contract striker could appear for the Cumbrians against Pools. Morrison, 35, trained with Pools on Tuesday, while he has also trained with
Opening partners Adam Lyth and Alex Lees continued their domination of the end of season awards last night at Yorkshire’s champions gala dinner at Elland Road football ground in Leeds. Lyth won the Players’ Player of the Year award and the club
ALAN PARDEW has revealed how determined he is to turn Newcastle United around by claiming it is his love for the job that is preventing him from stepping down as manager. Pardew has felt the wrath of disgruntled supporters after the Magpies’ dismal
Swansea manager Garry Monk has accused television of adding to Alan Pardew's misery at Stoke on Monday night, claiming there was an agenda against the under-fire Newcastle boss. Pardew will be in the spotlight at Swansea again on Saturday with
GUS POYET claims it takes a certain type of manager to successfully handle the unique pressures of working in the North-East – and the Sunderland boss is confident he has what is required to cope. The crisis engulfing Newcastle manager Alan Pardew
MIDDLESBROUGH head coach Aitor Karanka has admitted discipline will be crucial in his side’s quest for success this season having lost three players to suspension recently. Dean Whitehead and Albert Adomah both return to the squad for tomorrow’
ROOTED in the relegation places, still searching for a first Premier League win and with their supporters in open revolt against both the manager and owner, it’s hard to see how things could be any worse for Newcastle United. So much has gone wrong
A TV recycling expert has threatened to take legal action against a North-East upcycling business that he believes has copied one of his products. Karen Riley and Donna Feeney recently transformed a rusty old bath found in a farmer’s field into
A WOMAN who claimed Simon Cowell backed her fight to stop the repossession of her animal sanctuary home has had her latest legal attack thrown out by a top judge. Paula Campbell - who earlier this year barricaded herself inside the farmhouse for
A MOTORIST who killed a cyclist in a crash moments after sending a text on his mobile phone was yesterday jailed for three years and nine months. Timothy McLoughlin lost control of his powerful pick-up truck as he aborted a move to overtake two
CLINTON Morrison could line up for Hartlepool United against Carlisle tomorrow; alternatively the out of contract striker could appear for the Cumbrians against Pools. Morrison, 35, trained with Pools on Tuesday, while he has also been with the
Sean O'Brien faces a "nightmare" six months sidelined with shoulder trouble that threatens to wipe out his Six Nations campaign with Ireland. Leinster boss Matt O'Connor has revealed the British and Irish Lions flanker will undergo shoulder surgery
MARGARET Thatcher was forced to tear up one of her most hard-hitting speeches, which would have gone beyond her controversial The Enemy Within remarks, in the wake of the Brighton bomb, newly released files reveal. The prime minister provoked outrage
CAMPAIGNERS declared it was “payback time” for controversial lender Wonga yesterday after it wrote off £220m worth of debt to 330,000 customers who could not afford to take out loans. Britain’s biggest payday lender, which became infamous for its
TWO North-East universities will benefit from an £8m investment announced by Business Secretary Vince Cable.The £4m allocation from the Government - matched by £4m from other sources – will be used to train bioscientists at Newcastle
