The Darlington and Stockton Times | News, Sport, Business, North Yorkshire, County Durham

The North East | Archive | 2005 | November

Stories for 1 November 2005

Consett,Stanley,Chester Le Street News

Customer may hold clue to violent off-licence robbery

A LATE-NIGHT shopper may have vital clues to help trace a knife-wielding robber who terrified two women shop assistants. more...

Darlington,Newton Aycliffe,Sedgefield News

Service of remembrance for babies

A SERVICE is being held in Darlington to remember babies who have died before, or soon after, birth. more...

Students want to make trade fair

A TEAM of Darlington students turned the tables on teachers yesterday as they were given the chance to educate them on an important issue. more...

The Witching hour

CHILDREN and staff at Westview Day Nursery in Middleton St George celebrate Halloween by dressing as spooks and witches. more...

Hurworth School Debate: Letters

EXCELLENT JOB: THE campaign in Darlington, led by Share (The Save Hurworth School Group), did an excellent job in highlighting several issues of concern affecting the lives of Darlington Borough Council ratepayers. more...

Campaigners sending out an SOS

CAMPAIGNERS fighting against plans for a new £25m city academy in the North-East, last night used the Halloween date to insist they would not "fall under the spell" of council bosses. more...

Awards honour the unsung heroes who give their time

DEDICATED volunteers who give so much to their local communities in and around Darlington have been honoured at a special ceremony. more...

Durham,East Durham News

Tax collection rise

DURHAM City Council says its record for collecting council tax and rent could soon be above the national average. more...

Clothes and toys to be sold

A NEARLY-NEW sale of toys and children's clothing will be held on Saturday, November 12, between 9.30am and 12.30pm at The Salvation Army in Plawsworth Road, Sacriston. Admission costs 50p, children free, and a quarter of the proceeds will go to the Salvation Army Parent and Toddler Group. more...

Bid to overcome doctor and dentist shortage

AN international recruitment drive has been launched in east Durham in a bid to overcome a shortage of doctors and dentists in the area. more...

Remember the forgotten battle

THE heroes of a forgotten battlefield are to be remembered in a talk next week. more...

Launch of Popy Appeal and the spirit of remembrance

THE Mayor of Durham yesterday officially launched this year's poppy appeal with the presentation of the city's first poppies to war veterans from the Royal British Legion. more...

MP opens refurbished bank

DURHAM City's MP Roberta Blackman-Woods yesterday officially opened a refurbished branch of Barclays Bank in the city's Market Place. more...

East Cleveland News

Four fined in crackdown on sales to underage drinkers

A CLAMPDOWN on off-licences selling alcohol to underage drinkers has resulted in four sales assistants receiving £80 on-the-spot fines. more...

Well-balanced youngsters invited to try forest's new aerial walkway

YOUNGSTERS can now take on a new challenge at a woodland adventure play area. more...

Protected fence gets £50,000 makeover

ONE of the country's only Grade II-listed fences has been given a facelift. more...

Northallerton,Richmond,Hawes News

Hannah to help orphans in S Africa

A TEENAGER is preparing for the trip of a lifetime to work with orphaned youngsters in South Africa. more...

Black-tie ball to aid nursery

TICKETS have gone on sale for a charity ball in aid of a children's nursery. more...

Woman faced 12in blade

A FATHER-OF-TWO with a pregnant wife has been warned he faces prison after a row with a woman neighbour escalated into knife-wielding threats. more...

£343,477 for average detached house

THE average price of a detached house in the Harrogate district costs £343,577, figures from the national Land Registry reveal. more...

Mobile youth shelter aims to cut crime

A MOBILE youth shelter is to be installed in Stokesley in an attempt to cut anti-social behaviour. more...

Artwork for charities

ARTIST Sir David Goodall has used his craft to provide help to two charities he is connected with. more...

Youth club facing closure because of lack of funding

A YOUTH club set up to reduce anti-social behaviour is facing closure because of a shortage of money. more...

Tree-planting fund to combat CO2

A MAJOR effort is being launched to encourage the people of Yorkshire to help combat climate change. more...

Panic flight from PC after night celebrating

A SALES manager fled in a blind panic when police caught him urinating in the street, a court heard yesterday. more...

Environmental progress

A COMPANY says it has made significant improvements in environmental performance. more...

Teesside News

Question time with police

PEOPLE will have the chance to ask questions about policing issues in their community when the regular round of police and community safety consultative forum meetings take place. more...

Group wins award for fighting crime

CRIMEFIGHTING retailers are the first group in the North-East to be presented with the Safer Business Award. more...

Brushing up on her skills

A YOUNG painter and decorator has landed her dream job after brushing up on her skills at Redcar and Cleveland College. more...

Heena's monster comes to life in 3D

THE monstrous creation of a Teesside youngster has come to life thanks to 3D imagery. more...

Pupils' art brightens Skytering Beck bridge

A BRIDGE incorporating the designs of schoolchildren will be opened this week more...

Weatherman opens wind-theme works

TV weatherman Bob Johnson will be guest of honour when he helps mark the completion of environmental improvements with a windy theme. more...

£6m homes facelift

THE next phase of a £99m housing redevelopment programme is starting on Teesside. more...

Fireworks spectacular inspired by the sea

HARTLEPOOL'S Fireworks and Music Spectacular on Saturday will take place at Seaton Carew front from 4pm. more...

Halloween with no nasties

YOUNGSTERS opted for something a bit different when they celebrated Halloween on Teesside last night. more...

The North East Business

Success sparks chain reaction

THE company behind the Sleep Inn concept is opening a chain of hotels across the UK following the success of its Newton Aycliffe site. more...

Why limiting your company's liabilities could be a smart move

Limited liability status offers many advantages and for this reason solicitors often advised businesses to go limited. more...

It's the mad, mad, mad, mad world of the Bugatti Veyron

IT is not built in a factory, but in a luxury French chateau. It is more powerful than Michael Schumacher's Formula One racing car. It is years behind schedule and so expensive that only a handful will ever be built. What is it? The Bugatti Veyron. more...

Hedges could mend a few fences

RULES designed to help people living in the shadow of leylandii hedges may help warring neighbours resolve their disputes - in an unexpected way. more...

Brambles takes a bite out of the South

SANDWICH supplier Brambles Foods expects turnover to nearly double following the acquisition of a southern competitor. more...

Orbit Vehicles hits the road to success in the minibus market

A FAMILY-run Darlington company has clinched business from a major plc to supply minibuses to Hurworth House School. more...

Blame culture is threatening to ruin businesses

BUSINESSES are increasingly under threat from litigation because of a growing blame culture, a study has shown. more...

Recruiters planning to double turnover

MORE than 70 jobs will be created at the North-East's largest professional recruitment company over the next three to five years as the company aims to more than double turnover. more...

Retailers set to feel the pinch this Christmas

Although you may have seen a number of scary looking characters lurking from door to door last night, this is nothing compared to the scare investors have had to endure over the past few weeks. more...

Wise approach to environment

YORKSHIRE Water will hear next week if it has been successful in a competition to find the UK's greenest companies. more...

Personality crisis that can lead to dismissal

On October 12, the Court of Appeal issued its judgement in the case of Perkin v St George's Healthcare NHS Trust. more...

Look what our teacher did next!

AN actor and lecturer who taught two generations of Ant and Decs has joined Tyne Metropolitan College. more...

Wi-Fi is the next big thing, but we must make it secure

Wi-Fi may sound like something from the latest blockbuster Hollywood sci-fi movie, but most people with a computer in their home have heard of, and are using, Wireless Networks. more...

Jane Jobson

Nursery group Just Learning has appointed JANE JOBSON as North-East area manager. more...

Will the new Bill leave firms holding the baby?

BUSINESS leaders fear that new parental leave allowances could create an administrative nightmare for North-East companies. more...

Pilkington approach

GLASSMAKER Pilkington yesterday confirmed it had received a takeover approach thought to be worth up to £2bn. more...

Training centres to address skills gap

THE once-ailing manufacturing sector in the North-East may be about to receive a shot in the arm after the Government announced a £40m drive to improve skills. more...

Latest creation ready to follow Phileas Fogg around the world

The Tanfield Food Company has struck gold with its creation of the Look What We Found range of gourmet food. Kate Bowman talks to co-founder Roger McKechnie about the product. more...

£6m - the asking price for two-thirds of a bear

RUPERT become one of the world's most expensive bears yesterday after Entertainment Rights paid £6m to Express Newspapers for a two-thirds stake. more...

Jim Bradley

Data-engineering consultancy Rocket Science has appointed senior executive Jim Bradley as managing director of Snapshot, the company division handling the development of Rocket's paper-free sales tracking and reporting system. more...

Sam Morrison

CONSULTANCY company Macnaughton McGregor has appointed SAM MORRISON as a training and development consultant. more...

It's party time for girls who wanna have fun

TWO sisters have launched a new business in the region hosting themed parties for young girls. more...

Take the chance to explore the wonderful world of cyberspace

SMALL businesses are being offered the chance to boost their profiles with the help of Darlington College. more...

Networking at the click of a button

A NEW concept in networking has been launched, opening doors for businesses at the click of a button. more...

Photographer helps put you in the picture

A PHOTOGRAPHER has expanded his Teesside-based business to launch a range of classes for the general public. more...

Bidding war looms for P&O

A MULTI-BILLION pound bidding war for P&O was on the horizon yesterday following confirmation of a takeover approach for the ports and ferries operator. more...

Lost traveller founded an institution

If it hadn't been for a young, Swiss confectioner catching the wrong train, the region might not have become home to perhaps the most prestigious cafe in the country. Kate Bowman takes a tour of the family-owned business Bettys, where if somthing's worth doing well, it's worth doing by hand. more...

Shareholders ready to sell Peacock

CLOTHING chain Peacock was poised to be taken private yesterday after announcing a management buyout worth £404.4m. more...

Alastair Wilson and Steven Butler

Deloitte's Newcastle office has appointed Alastair Wilson and Steven Butler to its corporate tax division. more...

Initiative is paving the way for the next generation of workers

A North-East initiative is paying dividends for young people - giving them the chance to experience the workplace, and giving future employers the chance to get to know potential furture workers. John Dean finds out more about the scheme. more...

JD Sports owner buys troubled rival

THE owner of JD Sports yesterday bought troubled rival Allsports for £18m. more...

Clinton Cards posts losses

CLINTON Cards slumped into the red yesterday after poor returns from the Birthdays chain it acquired last December. more...

Union warns of closure

A UNION yesterday warned of the possible closure of a North-East brick manufacturer with the loss of more than 50 jobs. more...

Rising costs force Elementis redundancies

CHEMICAL company Elementis Chromium announced yesterday it is to reduce its Teesside workforce by more than half. more...

X-ray firm reveals an increase in losses

LOSSES at x-ray technology group Bede have grown after orders came in at the lower end of expectations. more...

Contract wins offer 2020 a secure future

SECURITY specialist 2020 Vision Systems expects turnover to reach £3.5m this year after winning lucrative contracts in the region. more...

Bidding battle ahead for O2

SPAIN'S Telefonica agreed a £17.7bn bid for cell phone group O2 yesterday, sparking hopes of a bidding battle for one of the sector's top takeover targets. more...

Lull after financial storm

INSURANCE premiums are poised to fall for businesses as the industry recovers from losses following catastrophes such as the September 11 terrorist attacks, a broker has claimed. more...

The North East Features

On TV

Hidden Lives: Old Enough To Be His Mother (five) more...

Why I'm glad I've got the gong

THE last time Amanda Harris saw Laurence Olivier he was wearing a pink bikini. And in case you're alarmed at the image of the late great actor attired in ladies' swimwear, let me point out that we're talking about a bust of him, one of those handed out annually to winners of the theatrical Olivier Award. more...

The scourge of the workhouse

They were built to house the poor and the infirm, but for many, the workhouse meant a lifetime of abuse and mental cruelty. Lindsay Jennings talks to the author of a new book whose great aunt spent her life in Durham Union Workhouse. more...

Warming to the theme of funerals

Last Saturday night I made two girls scream in the City of London. It was a misty evening and I was on my way to a dinner at Tallow Chandlers' Hall. more...

The super donor of the dales

DON'T put anything down in Anita Savory's house, joke her daughters, or she'll have a tombola ticket on it in seconds. As it is, when you walk into her house in Wolsingham, the first thing you see in the hall is a sack of teddy bears, tins of sweets, football souvenirs... all waiting to be raffled, tombolad or auctioned for a good cause. more...

Embarrassment of glitches

IT seems a long time since Tony Blair pledged, in the wake of the sleaze which blighted John Major's administration, that his Government had to be whiter than white. more...

From disaster to truly Grimm

It seems all Terry Gilliam's movies have been cursed - and the latest keeps up the trend, he tells Steve Pratt. more...

01/11/05

ALUM MYSTERY: I AGREE with Councillor Jackson's suggestion (HAS, Oct 25) to name an area near the War Memorial in Loftus, Cleveland, Alum Gardens. more...

'Why I'm glad I got the gong'

Actress Amanda Harris, who is currently rehearsing as Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, is honoured to have earned an Olivier Award - despite it sporting a pink bikini. Steve Pratt reports. more...

Comment from The Northern Echo: Embarrassment of glitches

IT seems a long time since Tony Blair pledged, in the wake of the sleaze which blighted John Major's administration, that his Government had to be whiter than white. more...

The North East News

Cancer group's plea for equity

COUNTY Durham's first support group for men with prostate cancer has been launched with a message from Prime Minister Tony Blair. more...

Guitarist heading back to promote band's album

NORTH-EAST rock guitarist Pete Shoulder will be back in the region soon to launch a national tour promoting his band's first album. more...

RSPCA renews plea in hunt for cat's killer

THE RSPCA has made a fresh appeal for information after the body of a dismembered cat was found in a field. more...

Asbo woman told that her family needs rest

A WOMAN who terrorised her village was told to stop depending on her family by a judge yesterday. more...

City celebrating 400th anniversary of powder plot

IT is 400 years since Guy Fawkes was caught red-handed as he tried to blow up Parliament, and the city he called home is celebrating in style. more...

Memorial to brave soldier who set magificent example to us all

A PIT village has put up a memorial to its First World War hero who lost his life after winning the highest honour for gallantry. more...

Club president dies in accident on award night

A GOLF club's president died in a road accident two hours before a golf club's annual awards night. more...

45 jobs to go at N-E learning group

FORTY-FIVE jobs will go at the organisation responsible for improving the low skill levels of North-East workers, it was announced yesterday. more...

Blackmailer's four-year fight for Nazi war relic

A Nazi war relic at the centre of a bizarre blackmail case has been handed back to its owner. more...

Fair test? Or just a cruel Britannia?

As the Government prepared to introduce a test to assess immigrants' British knowledge, Deborah Johnson puts several Britons on the spot to see how they fared. more...

Interpol on the trail of suspected drugs baron

A SUSPECTED drugs baron who has spent the past eight years living in northern Cyprus after skipping bail is on the run again, The Northern Echo can reveal. more...

Pensioner in court for trying to grope boy of 13

A PENSIONER exposed himself and then tried to grope a boy, a court heard. more...

Under-fire Blunkett fighting for survival

Work and Pensions Secretary David Blunkett was last night fighting for his political future despite announcing that he had asked his sons to sell shares in technology company DNA Bioscience. more...

Daughter with rare condition saved from death three times

A MOTHER has told how her 16-month-old daughter has been brought back from the brink of death three times. more...

Burglar killed in 60ft fall is named

A BURGLAR who died after falling 60ft from a shop window has been named by detectives. more...

Widow: I trusted murder trial GP

THE wife of a man allegedly murdered by his GP told a court yesterday her husband lost consciousness and died after he was give three injections of morphine. more...

Opposition grows to plan for conversion of almshouses

A PROTEST was launched yesterday over a plan for a village's almshouses, built for poor people, to be reduced from three to two. more...

Hero of indoor market blast

A WORKER was hailed as a hero last night after an explosion forced the evacuation of a busy indoor market. more...

Father-of-two almost dies after contracting flesh-eating bug

A FATHER-OF-TWO almost died after he contracted a flesh-eating bug. more...

Appeal for people not to misuse coast alert flares

LIFEBOAT crews have appealed for people not to use emergency flares as fireworks. more...

World's biggest ovarian cancer trial tests its 200,000th volunteer

THE world's largest ovarian cancer screening trial has now tested 200,000 women. more...

Hospital workers stage one-day strike

MANAGERS had to take bodies into a hospital mortuary yesterday after a one-day strike by porters and other staff. more...

Final salute as squadron's disbandment brings era to an end

A CEREMONY was held yesterday to mark the disbandment of a distinguished RAF fighter squadron. more...

Child-porn official planned to start new life in Thailand

A LONG-SERVING council officer jailed yesterday for downloading child pornography on his work computer plans to start a new life in Thailand on his release. more...

Burglar killed in 60ft fall is named

A BURGLAR who died after falling 60ft from a shop window has been named by detectives. more...

Interpol hunt North-East fugitive

AN ALLEGED drugs baron who has spent the past eight years living in northern Cyprus is on the run again. more...

Report reveals millions owed by North tax dodgers

COUNCIL tax dodgers in the North-East and North Yorkshire have cheated the region's authorities out of tens of millions, a union has claimed. more...

The North East Sport

Quick trip bodes well for King Harson

WITH only five days to go before the end of the Flat turf season Catterick-bound King Harson (3.00) must make the most of feeling the green grass under his feet. more...

Montgomerie welcomed back into the big league

Not finished then. Not even over the hill. Colin Montgomerie has proved this year that at 42 he can still compete with the best. more...

Viduka hoping to gain from pain

MARK Viduka is hoping the memory of his most painful moment in football will inspire him to fire Australia into the World Cup finals later this month. more...

Scott ready for Cooper's return

MARTIN Scott believes former Pool boss Neale Cooper will receive a warm welcome on his return to Victoria Park tonight. more...

Hutchinson ban will hit club hard

Darlington boss David Hodgson believes Joey Hutchinson's impending two-match suspension could not have come at a more crucial time. more...

Parker: We're a match for Premiership's best

SCOTT Parker believes Newcastle United have added a steely backbone to their silky skills - and ranks the Magpies strongest XI as good as either Manchester United's or Arsenal's. more...

Quick trip bodes well for King Harson

WITH only five days to go before the end of the Flat turf season Catterick-bound King Harson (3.00) must make the most of feeling the green grass under his feet. more...

Bassila a big miss to McCarthy

MICK McCarthy last night admitted Sunderland have missed the calming influence of injured midfielder Christian Bassila, claiming the tough-tackling Frenchman was a key component of his strongest side. more...

England glad of Trescothick's patience

Marcus Trescothick likened his batting to ''pulling teeth'' at the Pindi Stadium yesterday - but England were happy to grin and bear it as he ground out the runs which saved their blushes on the first day of their tour opener in Pakistan. more...

Two decades on we're still happily on the back track

It was back on November 2, 1985 that it all began with no swearing at Ryhope CA, why flapping tracks are so called, and Sunderland basketball team's Peter Mullings, all 6ft 8ins of him, celebrating the birth of a son. more...

The North East, News

Soldier's death was suicide - inquest

A soldier tormented by domestic difficulties hung himself in a store room at his North Yorkshire barracks, an inquest heard. more...

Quadruple killer launches challenge

Quadruple killer Mark Hobson will have to wait to find out if he must face the rest of his life behind bars after launching a sentence challenge today. more...

The North East,Durham News

Raiders arrested after nightclub robbery

Two people have been arrested after a raid on a nightclub in which thousands of pounds were stolen. more...

The North East,East Cleveland,Teesside News

Conmen fleeced pensioners

A gang of rogue builders admitted conning vulnerable pensioners out of around £150,000 and spent the proceeds in the pub, a court heard today. more...

The North East,Tyneside News

Pair terrified by shark while on fishing trip

A father and son on a fishing trip clung to each other on terror as a shark attacked their boat. more...

The North East,Tyneside,Wearside,Teesside,Darlington,Durham,East Durham,Richmond,Northallerton News

Hundreds losing homes in repossessions

A huge rise in the number of people in the North-East on the brink of losing their homes is proof that the housing bubble has burst, it was claimed today. more...

The North East,Wearside News

Dad hit by yobs while trying to help papergirl

A dad was battered by drunken hoodie yobs in front of his three terrified sons. more...

Tyneside News

£4.5m music centre for students

A CENTRE aimed at producing the next generation of musicians and performers in the region opened yesterday. more...

Police appeal made

POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an unsolved arson attack on a terraced house in Coquet Street, Chopwell, Gateshead. more...

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