A 12-year-old girl reported as missing in Middlesbrough has been found.
Tanya Young had not been seen after at about 9.30am, on Friday, on Levick Crescent in Acklam.
Cleveland Police confirmed she has been found safe and well.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Trio of gangsters jailed over murder plot were dubbed 'the Krays of the North-east'
Paul Lyons was one of three gangsters jailed for plotting a man’s murder in 1998.
Lyons, from Middlesbrough, and Paul Ashton and Robert Webber - both from Tyneside - were dubbed the “Krays of the North-east”.
Between them they were jailed for more than 72 years in 1998 for the plot to kill Terence Mitchell.
The trio were caught after a two-year investigation by police, who examined incidents going back to 1971.
Matters came to a head in January 1996 when Webber and Ashton shot at the rival villain from the back of a plush Jaguar as the victim arrived at a friend’s house.
Shots were fired by Ashton and a gunfire broke out.
This came after an earlier attempt by Lyons to stab him with a bayonet failed.
Lyons was only sentenced for the plan to murder.
But he was given a further four years for taking part in a prison mutiny at Full Sutton in January 1997 when £900,000 damage was caused.
He was jailed for a total of 23-and-a-half years.
However this was cut by three years due to a delay in an appeal against his conviction, which failed, coming to court.
Ashton’s total of 31 years for the murder plot and other gang crimes was slashed to 22 years because of his age.
Webber’s 18-year sentence was reduced to 17 years - also because of the delay.
Underworld enforcer Paul Lyons - previously jailed for conspiracy to murder - spared prison after hitting wife with hammer
An underworld enforcer who served 13 years for conspiracy to murder has been spared another prison stint despite hitting his wife with a hammer.
Maureen Lyons said that she was desperate to have Paul Lyons, 46, back in their Middlesbrough home, which he smashed up with the hammer in early June.
The judge at Teesside Crown Court said that Lyons was suffering from “some sort of a mental breakdown” that day.
His wife was trying to calm him down when she was hit on the head as he swung out wildly in his orgy of destruction.
When Lyons went on trial last month for assaulting her she told the jury that the blow was not particularly hard and that it had been back-handed.
The couple had married when Lyons was in Frankland Prison in 2007 and they had lived together since September 2010.
The judge said that she highlighted the fact that there had been no previous domestic violence and the police had never been called to their home.
Recorder Jamie Hill QC said: “She gave a history of him suffering some sort of mental breakdown.
“He was getting some help but perhaps not as much as was necessary, and he and she were trying to access more assistance.”
Prosecutor Paul Lee said that Lyons had 20 convictions for 51 offences beginning in 1988 with assaults, wounding with intent and in 1998 he was jailed for 13 years for conspiracy to murder. He was jailed alongside Paul Ashton and Robert Webber from Tyneside. The trio were dubbed 'the Krays of the North-east'.
He was also jailed for four years consecutively for taking part in a prison mutiny at Full Sutton near York.
He said that it was a matter for the judge whether he thought that Lyons is a significant risk to the public of serious harm.
The judge said that the probation officer who interviewed Lyons for a pre-sentence report came to the conclusion that Lyons was not deliberately targeting his wife.
Recorder Hill said: “It seems from the pre-sentence report that the defendant was having something of a mental breakdown, smashing the place up and seeking to end it all, and his wife was trying to stop that behaviour.”
Rod Hunt, defending, said that the incredible efforts made by Maureen Lyons had succeeded in helping him to leave behind a life of crime apart from this one incident.
He added: “He has clearly been institutionalised more than he or she knew,and more importantly now the Probation service know.
“There is a difficult case history. We all know now that he is fully over the worst of this breakdown and the Probation service can now work with him.
“They have put a regime in place, she now understands and he now understands. She is a strong woman and she will not hesitate to put him in jeopardy if she feels it necessary.”
The judge told Lyons, who had been remanded in custody for four months, that the right sentence was a suspended one with long supervision, given that his wife was desperate to have him home again.
Lyons, of Penistone Road, Park End, Middlesbrough, who smiled at his wife in the public gallery as he left the dock, was given an 18 month jail sentence suspended for two years with supervision, after he changed his plea during his trial to guilty to actual bodily harm assault.
Addict who travelled to Middlesbrough to buy drugs jailed after attempting to burgle house
An addict who travelled to Middlesbrough to buy drugs was jailed yesterday after he attempted to burgle a house in a drugged-up state.
David Taylor, 26, was spotted by a woman in her kitchen as he tried the door handle of her home.
A neighbour alerted the police and he was arrested and re-called to prison to complete a previous sentence.
Prosecutor Deborah Smithies told Teesside Crown Court that Taylor had three house burglaries on his record and that the latest offence was committed when he was on licence from prison.
He has now been re-called until December for trying to burgle the house in Saltwells Crescent, Longlands, Middlesbrough, on June 4.
Andrew Turton, defending, said that Taylor was convicted after a trial two weeks ago and he had been remanded in prison since then.
His pre-sentence report said that he was a man in the depths of despair brought on by his use of drugs and alcohol.
He was now free of those and he realised that it was the best thing that could have happened to him.
Mr Turton told the judge: “The future for him is far brighter than it was two weeks ago.
“He is now in a place where, with a clear head, he can start the process of rehabilitation while making use of the help available to him.”
The judge Recorder Jamie Hill QC said that Taylor was clearly in Middlesbrough to buy drugs because of his own dependency and being put under pressure by others.
The judge told him: “The problem is that when you go out doing this you create another victim in somebody else who is vulnerable.
“It was clearly something that happened on the spur of the moment. You are now back in prison to serve the rest of your previous sentence until the end of the year, and the sentence I impose today is going to run alongside that one.
“You clearly do have mental health problems. I note that you are being monitored by the hospital wing in prison and you are under close observations because of your problems.”
Taylor, of Great North Road, Plawsworth, Chester-le-Street, wept as he was given a nine months jail sentence with reduction for the time he had already served after he pleaded guilty to attempted burglary and possession of cannabis.
Police searching for Tanya Young, 12, who has been reported as missing
A 12-year-old girl has been reported as missing in Middlesbrough.
Tanya Young was last seen at about 9.30am, on Levick Crescent in Acklam.
She was walking towards Thornaby.
Tanya is described as white and slim, with long, mousey brown hair.
She was wearing blue jeans and a grey hooded top.
It is believed that she may be in the Thornaby area.
Tanya’s family reported her disappearance to Cleveland Police who are asking anyone who may know of Tanya’s whereabouts to call them 101.
Man taken to hospital with 'non life-threatening' injuries after suspected knife attack
A 26-year-old man suffered shoulder and back injuries in a suspected knife attack.
Cleveland Police were called at about 11.45am today to an incident at a flat on Norton Road in Stockton.
The victim was taken to Stockton’s University Hospital of North Tees for treatment but his injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
No arrests have as yet been made but inquiries are ongoing.
Anyone with information should call 101.
Recap: Breaking news, traffic and travel across Teesside
The Evening Gazette's live breaking news blog brings you regular updates, pictures, video, tweets and comments covering the latest Teesside and North Yorkshire traffic, travel, weather, crime and council news for today, Tuesday 30th September, 2014.
You can contribute to the live blog by posting your comment below, and you can also tweet us @EveningGazette to share breaking news stories, pictures and opinions.
Our Teesside breaking news live blog begins at 07:00am every weekday and is updated throughout the day and into the evening.
Recap: Breaking news, traffic and travel across Teesside
The Evening Gazette's live breaking news blog brings you regular updates, pictures, video, tweets and comments covering the latest Teesside and North Yorkshire traffic, travel, weather, crime and council news for today, Wednesday 1st October, 2014.
You can contribute to the live blog by posting your comment below, and you can also tweet us @EveningGazette to share breaking news stories, pictures and opinions.
Our Teesside breaking news live blog begins at 07:00am every weekday and is updated throughout the day and into the evening.
Recap: Breaking news, traffic and travel across Teesside
The Evening Gazette's live breaking news blog brings you regular updates, pictures, video, tweets and comments covering the latest Teesside and North Yorkshire traffic, travel, weather, crime and council news for today, Thursday 2nd October, 2014.
You can contribute to the live blog by posting your comment below, and you can also tweet us @EveningGazette to share breaking news stories, pictures and opinions.
Our Teesside breaking news live blog begins at 07:00am every weekday and is updated throughout the day and into the evening.
Young mum who acted as 'bait' in knifepoint robbery is congratulated for turning her life around
A young mum has been congratulated on her success in reforming her life after she acted as bait in a knifepoint robbery on a student.
Bernadette Howells, 30, was given a suspended prison sentence after she rewarded the courts’ kindness in a six-month reprieve.
Her lawyer Graham Silvester said she was given an opportunity to change and “grabbed it with both hands”.
He told Teesside Crown Court: “She’s given birth to a lovely baby daughter. Her drug-taking has disappeared.
“It’s all positive. She should be commended for her efforts.”
Judge Howard Crowson described her progress today as “a good news story”.
He told her: “You’ve done extremely well. There’s a lot more to do, and a lot of hard work ahead of you. As a young mother you know that.
“There’s no training for being a good mum. You just do your best, and you are doing. I’m very encouraged by what I’ve read.”
Six months ago he gave Howells, then pregnant, an ultimatum as he deferred her sentence.
He told her in April: “You have changed your attitude to drug use and now you seem to me to be worthy of encouragement.
“If you remain drug-free and you do not commit another offence you will not go immediately to prison.
“If you go back to your old ways and you re-offend you will do, whether or not you are a young mum with a child.”
The court heard how she approached a young man late at night near the law courts building in central Middlesbrough and called out to him: “Do you want some fun?”
He said no, she asked him for a light and, as he put his phone into his jeans pocket, he felt a knife at his throat.
The student saw a man who said “empty your pockets” and stole his phone and £10 before running off with Howells.
Howells, of Wicklow Street, Ayresome, Middlesbrough, was found guilty of robbery after a trial.
The court heard she was due to give birth three months after that hearing and had an unusually positive pre-sentence report.
Mr Silvester said she was being drug-tested and making “very real progress” trying to get away from a difficult background.
Judge Crowson told Howells today: “The offence was a serious matter at the time.
“But I’m satisfied that your role was subsidiary to somebody else.”
He gave her a two-year prison sentence suspended for 18 months with supervision.
He said he hoped her life would continue to change for the better and “we will never meet again”.
He added: “If you re-offend we will meet again and you will start with two years.”
Pensioner, 85, left shaken and upset after handbag is snatched in Berwick Hills
An 85-year-old woman was left shaken and upset after her handbag was snatched in Middlesbrough in broad daylight.
The theft happened on Wednesday, between 3.50pm and 4pm, on St Catherine’s Court, in Berwick Hills, as the elderly woman was going into a property.
A man grabbed the black, patent leather handbag - containing the pensioner’s purse and cash - and ran off in the direction of Cragdale Road.
He is described as being black and in his thirties. At the time he was wearing a white shirt and grey trousers.
Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information regarding the theft or the suspect to contact PC Steven Bolsover on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Tees Valley Mohawks coach says team are focused for cup double header
Tees Valley Mohawks coach Steve Butler says his side is focused on delivering knockout blows rather than worrying about the prospect of bowing out for the count in their cup double header this weekend.
Part one sees the Teesside University-based side visit Bradford Dragons in their National Trophy pool before they go up against local rivals Team Northumbria in a home derby on Sunday.
A defeat to the Dragons would mean no quarter-final appearance for the club, and Butler says his players have put themselves through the mill in training in a bid to ensure they stay in the competition.
Butler said: “Saturday will be tough.
“Bradford have some good players and beat Derby last weekend.
“A defeat means we can’t make the top four and a quarter-final spot is out of the question.
“The guys have worked hard in training and I can’t ask for much more.
“We will be focused and ready for the challenge.”
Mohawks will be looking to avenge a narrow recent 62-57 defeat to Team Northumbria in the knockout competition of the National Cup.
Butler added: “After the disappointing defeat of two weeks ago, we will be hoping to pay them back and get a victory on home court.
“Team Northumbria are very well-drilled and organised, but if we can play up-tempo and take pride on defence then I know we can get the victory we need to go through to the next round.”
The Mohawks will be looking to Rob Donaldson and Romonn Nelson to deliver again as they target two cup wins this weekend.
The developing young guards have been real plus points for the club this season and are well-respected throughout the country.
The Mohawks will be hoping to add at least another two signings next week to bolster the squad before their league campaign starts.
Northern League: The dream of FA Vase glory a reality for big guns
With FA Cup involvement over for another season, four of Teesside’s Northern League teams change course for a much more winnable competition tomorrow as they play in the FA Vase.
NL sides have won five of the last six Vase finals with Whitley Bay celebrating a hat-trick before Dunston and Spennymoor sprayed the champagne at Wembley.
West Auckland - another NL side - have also finished runners-up in two of the last three campaigns so the dream is very much a reality for North-east clubs, especially the big guns.
Third-placed Marske have home advantage in the second qualifying round against Chester-le-Street, as do Billingham Synthonia against Celtic Nation, Billingham Town against Yorkshire Amateur and Stokesley versus North Shields.
Marske face the second division strugglers fresh from a 2-1 midweek win at West Allotment with goals from Glen Butterworth and Josh Myers.
“The league’s record in the competition shows what can be done and it’s one we are looking to push on in,” said Marske boss Carl Jarrett.
“But we won’t be taking Chester-le-Street lightly.
“We’ve beaten four teams who you would fancy to be up there at the end of the season, but we struggled in the first half in the FA Cup against Billingham Town and lost our unbeaten record in the league to Jarrow Roofing.
“And, if I’m honest, a draw probably would have been a fair result at West Allotment the other night.
“Chester-le-Street will see us as a scalp, and we’ve got to stay concentrated.”
Fred Woodhouse (ban) and Reece Kelly (ankle) are out for Marske and combative midfielder Austin Johnston is rated 50/50 with a dead leg.
Billingham Synthonia go into the Celtic Nation game in a positive frame of mind despite losing 2-1 at home to last season’s Vase runners-up West Auckland in the league on Wednesday night.
Lee Tucker’s side got rid of the gremlins from their 5-0 defeat at leaders Bedlington as a much stronger line-up was unlucky not to get something.
Nathan Porritt put Synners ahead with a well-worked early goal - his eighth of the campaign - and Michael Sweet saw his stoppage time penalty saved after West clawed back to score twice through Steven Richardson and Matty Moffat.
Central defender Tom Bott and striker Nathan Jameson are poised to make their second starts since resigning from Whitley Bay and Guisborough, but winger Kris Hughes is still suspended.
Billingham Town are finding it hard to add goals to their promising approach play and it’s a problem they need to solve if they want to get past Yorkshire Amateur, who are 15th in Northern Counties East Division One.
Captain Drew Lambert should be back in the starting XI after being on the bench for the goalless midweek draw at Esh Winning, where livewire forward Aidan Cattermole made his first start since switching from neighbouring Synners.
Finishing problems also dogged Stokesley as they lost 4-1 at home to Willington on Wednesday.
Greg Peel scored their lone goal but the left-footed striker is suspended for the visit of high-flying North Shields, who were held to a 3-3 draw at Stokesley on their way to the Division Two title last season.
Sean Mackin could start in Peel’s stead but defender Lloyd Evans has left to join South Shields.
Guisborough come into the Vase at a later date - reward for their fourth place finish last season - so face a home game against Morpeth in Division One. The Priorymen failed to find the back of then net in a 2-0 home defeat to Bishop Auckland and goalless draw at Ashington after a recent goal glut, but are still creating chances.
New striker Damien Stevens will be included in the squad for the fir st time in next Wednesday’s trip to Crook following the completion of his move from Heaton Stannington.
“He is pacy, young and technically good - he fits the profile,” said Guisborough boss Chris Hardy.
Norton go in search of a third away win of the season at rock-bottom Brandon in Division Two having dropped their first home points of the season in a midweek 2-2 draw against Ryhope.
Norton led twice through Michael Jameson and John Seaton, but were pegged back on each occasion.
Thornaby hope to get three new signings done in time for their home clash against bogey team Northallerton, who have won the last seven league meetings between the sides.
Jamie Clarke and Stephen Morrison are set to start after game-changing impacts from the bench in last week’s flattering 2-0 win against Brandon which kept their unbeaten home record intact.
“We have been much better overall than we showed against Brandon,” said Thornaby manager Paul Edwards.
“But if we want to do something, performances like that will come and bite us and we have got to be better than that.
“Saying that, teams have done it throughout the years in this league and got points when they haven’t played well.
“I’m pleased we are still scoring goals and it was our first clean sheet of the season.”
Wearside League: Redcar Athletic try to right the ship as trio turn to the cup
Redcar Athletic and Wolviston join Stockton Town in taking a rest from Wearside League exertions as the trio turn their attention to 2pm kick-offs in the first round of the Monkwearmouth Cup.
Redcar will try to right the ship at home to Gateshead Leam Rangers after a disastrous week which brought back-to-back 6-1 defeats to Stockton Town and Silksworth Colliery.
It will be far from all hands on deck for Steve Connolly’s side though as they have nine first team players out of action.
Striker Alex Anderson is suspended, defender Liam Wood (calf) and midfielder Chris Bivens (ankle) are injured and goalkeeper James Fleming is working.
Silksworth club Ashbrooke Belford House are the visitors to league-leading Stockton, and if recent history is anything to go by an upset appears highly unlikely.
Stockton have won all 12 of their league games and demolished the House 6-1 the last time they ventured down the A19 to play Michael Dunwell’s side in August.
Jamie Ward, Daniel Lawson and Luke Whittaker return to boost the home squad after missing last week’s comfortable 3-0 win at Gateshead Leam Rangers.
Dunwell may opt to rotate in a few positions with an important league away game at Cleator Moor Celtic coming up next Wednesday.
Stockton have yet to win in five previous trips to Cumbria and will not want to risk injuries tomorrow as they strive to break that cycle.
Ryan Hodgson will keep his place in the Wolviston goal at mid-table Seaton Carew.
Hodgson enjoyed a decent debut in last week’s 2-2 draw with Cleator Moor Celtic after taking over between the posts from Chris Davidson, who has been transferred to Horden.
Missing for the Villagers are defender Anth Brown and midfielder Christian Selby.
Brown has returned to college in Southampton and former Norton and Billingham Town midfielder Selby is still serving a three-match ban for a late red card in the 2-2 draw with Boldon.
First Class: Pictures of reception classes from primary schools in the Middlesbrough area
Our photographers have been out and about meeting the new starters at primary schools across the Middlesbrough area.
They have taken pictures of reception classes at dozens of schools as part of our annual First Class photo feature.
Here's the pictures from the schools we have visited in - among other areas - Coulby Newham, Marton, Pallister Park, Linthorpe and Acklam.
Redcar man 'egged on' friend in drink-fuelled car rampage that caused £5,000 worth of damage
A 20-year-old man who “egged on” a friend during a drink-fuelled car rampage has been given a community order.
Levis Rule was a passenger in a car which crashed into a wall and three other vehicles, whilst being driven through Skelton by Glen Robert Sweeney, 25.
Teesside Magistrates Court heard Sweeney, of Kettleness Avenue, Redcar, took the car belonging to his girlfriend without her consent on the evening of August 16.
Rule, who was said to be “extremely remorseful,” admitted allowing himself to be carried in the vehicle after drinking, “spoiling” his previous good character.
Both he and Sweeney were injured when the car crashed into three other cars and a wall, causing more than £5,000 worth of damage.
Judge Andrew Meachin said he had no doubt the pair had “egged each other on” saying: “Drinking is an evil thing, as you found out. You get involved in things like this.
“You went along with your mate and I have no doubt you were egging each other on. Look at the consequences.”
Rule, of Sandringham Road, Redcar, was given a community order for 12 months with 80 hours unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay £105 costs.
Sweeney has admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis, dangerous driving, aggrevated vehicle taking and driving without an appropriate licence. He will be sentenced on October 16.
Delays for Teesside drivers after timber falls from lorry on Haverton Hill Road
Drivers heading out of Middlesbrough this morning were caught up in heavy traffic caused by a lorry shedding some of its load.
Large, flat timber sheets fell on to the road at the A1046 Haverton Hill Road resulting in the closure of one of the lanes.
The Gazette were informed of the incident about 7.55 and warned those travelling north on the A19 to expect delays.
A clean up operation quickly got under way, which meant that traffic coped well for the most part.
Cleveland Police were informed of the incident and confirmed that at 9.00am, the lorry driver and clean up crew were waiting for a fork lift truck to arrive on the scene so that the load could be changed over to another vehicle.
Normanby FC U-11s hoping for good result in this year's Wish campaign
A team of young footballers are hoping to score plenty of tokens in this year’s Wish campaign.
Normanby United FC Under 11s is hoping that The Gazette’s readers can help them to update their equipment this year.
Formed in 2005 and based in the Normanby, South Bank and Grangetown area, Normanby FC has since grown into a successful club with the dedicated help of its volunteers who ensure the club is constantly striving for improvement.
The club is committed to helping, developing and encouraging young footballers in the area. A safe, friendly and happy environemnt is also provided for all involved, with home games being played at Eston Park School and Gillbrook Technology College as well as at Harcourt Road in Middlesbrough.
Under 11s manager, Paddy Woods said: “Last year we spent the money we received from Wish on new equipment including goals.
“This year, any money we receive from Wish will be put towards the cost of updating resources for our team such as balls, cones and training bibs.
“Some of the money will also be spent directly on the team by helping to fund special events such as the Christmas party day.”
Every year, The Gazette’s Wish campaign gives away thousands of pounds to not-for-profit groups and organisations benefiting the Teesside community.
To get involved, groups must first register online at http://ift.tt/XA3Wdt .
All registered groups will receive confirmation in writing as well as a free starter pack to get supporters ready to start collecting tokens. Every registered group will be guaranteed a share of our £40,000 fund.
There are no losers in the Wish campaign but the aim is to collect as many tokens as possible.
The more tokens a group collects, the bigger its share of the prize pot.
Tokens will start appearing in The Gazette on Monday, October 13, with the last token appearing on Wednesday, January 21.
Submissions for tokens will close at 5pm on Monday, February 23.
To help Normanby United Football Under 11s, send your tokens to: 28 Manor Green, Normanby, Middlesbrough, TS6 0DZ.
Morning news headlines: High price for Afghanistan involvement, Tories ahead in polls, Thia arrests soon
Britain's armed forces have paid a "very high price" for their involvement in Afghanistan, David Cameron acknowledged, as he flew in for talks with the country's new leaders.
With the UK drawing to the close of its 13-year military involvement in the country, the Prime Minister said that Britain had gone "a long way" towards achieving its objectives there.
Mr Cameron was meeting newly installed president Ashraf Ghani - who took office just four days ago - and chief executive Abdullah Abdullah.
PM in surprise visit to Cyprus base
David Cameron announced the deployment of two more RAF Tornado fighter bombers to join the attacks on Islamic State (IS) militants as he made a surprise visit to the base where they are operating.
The Prime Minister, arriving at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, also promised that the operational life of the aircraft - which was due to be withdrawn from service next year - would be extended until 2016.
The two additional Tornado GR4s will lift the number deployed to eight, enabling them to sustain the tempo of sorties at around two a day.
Thai murder arrests very soon
Suspects in the killing of two British tourists on a Thai holiday island could be formally arrested "very soon", police have said.
Colonel Kissana Phathanacharoen suggested detectives were confident of a breakthrough in the hunt for the murderers of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24.
Their battered bodies were discovered on a beach on Koh Tao on September 15.
Tories set human rights ultimatum
A Tory government would deliver an ultimatum to European judges that Britain must be allowed to flout their human rights rulings - or it would quit the system.
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said the "mission creep" by the Strasbourg courts had become intolerable and it would have to accept becoming an "advisory" body.
Mr Grayling fleshed out the Conservative position after David Cameron told the party's conference that he would no longer put up with meddling on issues such as whether prisoners should be able to vote.
More tests for cause of Alice death
Further tests will be carried out on the body of murder victim Alice Gross, after a post-mortem examination proved inconclusive.
The body of the 14-year-old schoolgirl, who went missing on August 28, was recovered from the River Brent in west London on Tuesday.
The post-mortem at Uxbridge Mortuary took two days due to the "complex nature" of the investigation, Scotland Yard said.
Hong Kong talks offer welcomed
The Foreign Office has welcomed the Hong Kong Government's offer of talks to defuse a week of massive street demonstrations in the city.
But a spokesman insisted the UK remained concerned about the situation and urged both sides to participate constructively.
He said: "We welcome the offer by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to open talks with student leaders to discuss constitutional development. We hope that all parties will engage constructively in dialogue."
Tories edge ahead of Labour in poll
The Conservatives have edged ahead of Labour for the first time in two and a half years, according to a new opinion poll.
A YouGov survey for the Times shows the Tories have overtaken Ed Miliband's party following David Cameron's speech to activists this week in which he promised tax cuts for 30 million people.
Labour has not been behind in the polls since March 2012, just before Chancellor George Osborne's "omnishambles" Budget.
Probe urged into aide's language
A Liberal Democrat MP has called for an official investigation after a Home Office special adviser allegedly used derogatory language to describe Nick Clegg.
Duncan Hames (Chippenham) claimed the aide said to have branded the Deputy Prime Minister a "w*****" had breached the special adviser code of conduct. On that basis he has written to Home Office Permanent Secretary Mark Sedwill with a formal complaint.
A row erupted yesterday when Mr Clegg launched a furious attack on Theresa May for saying he put children at risk by blocking the so-called snoopers' charter.
Pill to help cut drink consumption
Drinkers who have half a bottle of wine or three pints a night are to be offered a life-saving pill which helps reduce their alcohol consumption.
Nearly 600,000 people will be eligible to receive the nalmefene tablet to keep their cravings at bay.
Experts claim the drug, which costs £3 a tablet, could save as many as 1,854 lives over five years and prevent 43,074 alcohol-related diseases and injuries.
Cancer drug ruling 'disappointing'
A new leukaemia drug which has been hailed for offering hope to many patients who previously had nowhere left to turn should not be used widely in the NHS, health officials have said.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said that obinutuzumab should not be made widely available to treat chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).
In new draft guidance the NHS authority said that "uncertainties" over manufacturer Roche's data means it it unable to recommend the drug.
Aitor Karanka warns Boro players to avoid picking up 'silly cards'
Aitor Karanka has warned his players to avoid picking up “silly cards”.
So far this season Dani Ayala, Dean Whitehead and Albert Adomah have been suspended for key games while Grant Leadbitter is one booking away from a ban.
Karanka was bemoaning his lack of options from the bench following Tuesday’s 1-1 home draw with Blackpool.
Two of the players he wanted to turn to during the game were Whitehead, who was serving a three-match ban due to his sending off against Brentford, and Albert Adomah, who was dismissed at Charlton on Saturday.
Both are back in contention for Saturday’s home clash with Fulham and Karanka has confirmed that he has warned his players to avoid picking up avoidable cautions.
He said: “I told the players to try and avoid getting silly cards because in this league every single detail is important.
“One mistake is important. One stupid yellow card is not important in that game, but if you have three or four, it will become important. I try to tell them everything counts.”
Karanka was critical of Whitehead’s sending off but believes Adomah was the victim of poor refereeing.
“What happened in the Brentford game was different to Adomah’s. His second yellow was a mistake by the referee.
“I’m not saying he (Albert) made a mistake, because the referee said to me he had made a mistake and he apologised to us.
“Deano’s was different. It was a game we were winning 3-0 and we lost the player for three games.
“It was very difficult for me to keep the shape of the team without him. We have had a lot of high intensity games, but it’s in the past and Deano is back with us. That’s the most important thing.”
Tees power plant project among Government scheme criticised for being 'poorly conceived and managed'
Consumers have been left to pick up the bill for “poorly conceived and managed” contracts worth £16.6bn for renewable energy, MPs have warned.
Contracts for eight renewable energy projects - including a major biomass plant on Teesside - were awarded early without competition to avoid delays in investment.
The projects are to receive an agreed price for electricity generated by low-carbon energy.
But the Public Accounts Committee said the Department of Energy (Decc) had let down consumers by awarding contracts to five offshore wind projects and three biomass schemes early without competition.
Among the projects is a MGT Power’s £500m biomass plant at Teesport, which will create more than 700 jobs.
The Government announcement in April meant the 275 megawatt Tees Renewable Energy Plant (Tees REP) will receive a fixed price for the electricity it produces for 15 years.
But Decc’s own economic case shows no clear benefit from awarding the contracts early, a report from the parliamentary committee said.
The department had no detailed knowledge and understanding of developers’ costs and estimates and failed to protect consumers’ interests in the terms of the contracts, the committee said.
Officials failed to challenge claims by developers that schemes would not come forward unless consumers shouldered the risk of rising inflation.
The MPs also criticised Decc’s decision not to include a clause that would ensure consumers shared in any excessive profits made by projects, and its failure to challenge developers’ claims that such a clause would put off investors.
It was also not clear if all the early contracts were needed to meet targets to boost renewables by 2020, as significant renewable capacity was already in construction, seeking planning permission or awaiting construction, the PAC report said.
PAC chairwoman Margaret Hodge said: “By awarding contracts worth up to £16.6bn to eight renewable electricity generation projects without price competition, the Department of Energy and Climate Change failed to adequately secure best value for consumers.
“Yet again, the consumer has been left to pick up the bill for poorly conceived and managed contracts.
“The Department argued that the early contracts were necessary to ensure continued investment.
“But its own quantified economic case shows no clear net benefit from awarding the contracts early.
“Indeed, if the Department had used price competition, it should have led to lower energy prices for consumers who are already facing hefty charges.
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