'It's not worth it' grieving Teesdale mum warns motorists

Nick DavidsonTHE mother of a Teesdale man who died in a horrific car crash is urging motorists not to get behind the wheel when under the influence of drink or drugs.Anita Thompson is backing Road Safety GB North East’s campaign, in the hope it saves lives during the festive period.Mrs Thompson’s 27-year-old son, Nick Davidson, and his friend Grant Benson, aged 21, were killed when the car they were travelling in crashed into a tree, ricocheted into...

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Police pleased with breath test results

TEESDALE motorists have performed well amid fresh drink-drive warnings.  Traffic officers breathalysed more than 50 drivers in Barnard Castle on Thursday, December 22, – all blew zero. Christmas and New Year brings greater alcohol consumption throughout the dale.Acting Sgt Simon Hogg was pleased with last week’s roadside tests.He said: “People have been asking us questions and we’ve been giving advice as to what kind of thing is safe – it’s...

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Old and new battle for Teesdale Business Awards glory

THE organisations shortlisted in the 12 categories of the Teesdale Business Awards 2016 have been unveiled.Companies which have tasted previous success in the annual awards, such as Middleton-in-Teesdale-based Cafe Fresh and Evenwood CA Group, are joined by newcomers including fish and chip shop operator Katie Barker and Neat Acoustics.The awards aim to recognise Teesdale businesses and social enterprises who have been successful in their own field...

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Dance, music and song on the menu for the new year

A TRIO of Tuesday events are offering the dale a chance to stretch its musical muscles.  Musicians Amy Purvis and Dan Kilford are starting a contemporary community choir and ukulele lessons at The Witham, in Barnard Castle. Every Tuesday in term time will see the pair teach the four-string lute between 6pm and 7pm alongside other percussive instruments. Between 7pm and 8pm a community choir accompanied by a live band will take centre stage.The...

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Grant scheme to keep slurry under wraps

A NEW grant is available to farmers in an effort to cut emissions of ammonia.Natural England has launched the  Farming Ammonia Reduction Grant (FARG) scheme.Under the scheme, farmers will be able to apply grant funding at 100 per cent more than the standard Countryside Stewardship rates to pay for slurry store covers.  In addition, one-to-one advice will be available on ways to reduce ammonia emissions and conserve nitrogen, both of which...

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Farmer's plea after dog kills his sheep

A TEESDALE farmer has urged dog owners to be “extra vigilant” when their animals are near livestock.The call comes after a dog attacked and killed a sheep near Staindrop in the early hours of Wednesday, December 14. John Robson, of Friar Cote Farm, on Moor Road, discovered one of his Texel gimmer lambs motionless in the field at about 8am.The animal, which was carrying twins, was found with a wound to its neck. It is believed that the animal was killed shortly before being discovered by Mr Robson.He said: “I have never had anything killed at the...

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What's making the news in this week's Mercury

GOOD sports from Barnard Castle fundraising group The Clique dived into the Tees on Boxing Day and we were there to capture the fun. Teesdale's fell rescue service is to maintain a local presence despite moving its centre of operations up to Durham.The secretary of the Cockfield pigeon federation is stepping down after clocking up 55 years in the job. Volunteers served up Christmas Day lunch to more than 30 people at Barnard Castle's Parish Hall.Evenwood...

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Dales farming calendar 'the best yet'

A FUNDRAISING calendar created by a Teesdale farming charity is said to be its best one yet.The Utass (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services) calendar for 2017 is now on sale, packed with images from the Durham Dales. Members and friends of Utass have sent in their images of the countryside for the calendar, which has been well supported by businesses. Money raised will be ploughed back into the charity.Utass worker Emma Spry, who helped select...

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Katy's new year class to help shed pounds

Katy before and afterTRAVEL consultant Katy Davies is offering to show anyone who wants to lose weight the route to a slimmer, healthier new year.Ms Davies, 36, who works for Kyle Travel, in Barnard Castle, has transformed her appearance after losing four-and-a-half stones. Now she is launching a Slimming World evening group in the town for men and women anxious to shed those unwanted pounds.In March, Ms Davies decided she’d had enough of unflattering...

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A688 Barnard Castle -West Auckland road named one of the most dangerous in UK

THE A688 between Barnard Castle and West Auckland is to get interactive speed signs after being declared one of the ten most dangerous roads in Britain.The 10.5 mile stretch of road came in eighth on the Road Safety Foundation’s (RSF) annual list of high risk roads in England, Scotland and Wales, published in November.People in Staindrop and Evenwood have been campaigning for years for traffic calming measures to be introduced along the road because of the volume and speed of traffic passing through.The situation was made worse when the road was...

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Security measures installed to protect Cockfield sports pavilion from yobs

Improved security measures are being introduced to help protect a state-of-the-art community sports facility.County councillors Heather Smith and Andy Turner have each used £1,480 of their neighbourhood budget to fund CCTV cameras and improve access to the Pauline Charlton Pavilion, in Cockfield. Cllr Smith said: “It is going to provide external lighting because at the moment there isn’t any.“It is a little way off the main road in the village and it is deterring people from going there on an evening in the winter. We are keen for it to be used...

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Owl sanctuary opens at Kays Hill rescue centre

AN animal sanctuary is now home to a new owlery thanks to help from a house-building firm. Kays Hill Animal Sanctuary entered a competition which was part of Barratt Homes North East’s Fix Up Look Sharp campaign and was run in partnership with Star FM radio.The sanctuary at Bildershaw, near West Auckland, is run by volunteers and cares for unwanted pets as well as local wildlife rescued by the team.Having been hoping to create more space to rehome...

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Local historians hear how spy's shoe was kept as a trophy by firing squad

VETERANS of the First World War were well known for rarely speaking about what they went through and the grandfather of Brignall farmer Andrew Watson was no different.Samuel Day did, however, share two  significant stories with his only grandson – as well as an extremely unusual artefact that proves the stories to be true. The item, a handmade leather shoe, and the gruesome story behind it was a hot topic of  discussion during a recent...

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