New jobs and staff promotion for growing Jacksons Law Firm

A Stockton-based law firm has made a string of new appointments and promotions following ‘significant’ growth over the last year.

Jacksons Law Firm, which is based on Yarm Road, Stockton, has taken on six new staff members and promoted a further five.

Bosses say the expansion follows on from high growth for the company, which provides legal advice to both a local and national commercial and private client base. The firm has nine partners and 60 staff across its Teesside and Forth Street, Newcastle offices.

Victoria Pounder, head of Jacksons’ Construction and Engineering Team, has been appointed to partnership after just nine months with the firm.

Victoria joined Jacksons’ in January this year and has since worked hard to strengthen its construction and engineering team and continue the firm’s reputation for offering quality specialist legal advice.

Three further members of staff - Inderjit Gill of the commercial litigation department, Julie Coward of the company & business department and Erica Turner of the commercial property team - have all been promoted to associates within the firm.

Solicitor Les Brown has joined Jacksons as part of their commercial litigation team and Susanne Shah, also a solicitor, has been appointed as the head of the Matrimonial Department across both Newcastle and Tees Valley offices

Helen McCue has recently qualified as a solicitor with Jacksons Law Firm and was offered a full time position within the firms’ commercial property team upon qualifying.

She first worked at Jacksons’ in 2010 for a short work experience placement, and was offered a training contract to start later the same year after impressing the partners of the firm.

Jacksons has also welcomed two new trainee solicitors. Philippa Walker and Samuel Bakers have both joined Jacksons’ in recent months and are currently working within Jacksons’ litigation.

Finally, Jacksons associated businesses have welcomed two new team members Tracy Metcalfe as a Health and Safety Consultant to work with organisations to help support them in the area of health and safety, and Lindsey Paylor as a co-ordinator of Jacksons Sure Move Limited, a relocation service for businesses and individuals moving premises.

Geoff Skeoch Senior Partner at Jacksons said “We are delighted to see such significant growth this year and the expansion of services within the firm to provide enhanced specialist support to all our clients.”

Woman hit by bus in Stockton town centre in critical but stable condition at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle

A woman hit by a bus in Stockton town centre remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital - as police continue to investigate the collision.

Hannah Baxter, 32, from Thornaby, has been transferred to Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital after she was hit by the bus at Maxwell’s Corner, in Stockton town centre, on Tuesday evening.

Hannah’s family, who are receiving ongoing support from a police family liaison officer, have expressed their thanks to all of the passers-by who went to help Hannah immediately after the collision.

They have also thanked the emergency services who attended the scene, and the NHS staff at James Cook University Hospital and Freeman Hospital who are concerned with Hannah’s care.

It is the second time in just over a month that a pedestrian has been involved in a collision with a bus on the high street.

“Bubbly and loving” Kelly Marie Evis, 28, died in hospital 15 days after being hit by a bus on Stockton high street on Monday, September 15.

Cleveland Police, the Great North Air Ambulance and the North East Ambulance Service attended the scene of Tuesday’s incident.

Crews from Stockton Fire Station were also called but were stood down on their arrival.

Police are still appealing for witnesses to contact PC Martin Tramner of the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit on 101 quoting incident CVP-14-185761

Recap: Ray Mallon outlining new wave of cuts at Middlesbrough Council

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Middlesbrough Council's elected mayor is this evening unveiling proposals to make £14m of savings in the next financial year.

At this stage last year, Ray Mallon outlined plans to axe 600 jobs in order to make £22m of savings in 2014/15.

The 'savage' budget cuts were ultimately voted through in March this year.

We are reporting live from tonight's meeting as Mr Mallon's plans are revealed for 2015/16.

The extraordinary meeting announcing a further £14.1m of budget cuts at Middlesbrough Council has now ended.

Mayor Mallon: "A vote for council tax freeze is a vote against the people.

"Am I emotional? Damn right I am. It's the right thing to do."

Mayor Mallon told the meeting: "Public borrowing is going up. And the deficit is not going down.

"The only game in town is building more houses getting more council tax to pay for elderly in 2020.

"You can't blame me for wanting to build more houses and increase council tax.

"I speak to you as an Independent I am independent through and through."

Councillor Bernie Taylor: "Labour has always supported council tax rise."

Labour councillor Shamal Biswas said: "Not this council but due to the government. We have a tough job to do."

Full story on the cuts and tonight's meeting will be on The Gazette website from 8.30pm tonight, and full coverage in tomorrow's paper.

Mayor Ray Mallon has finished his speech and sat down. He is inviting comments from councillors.

In conclusion, the cuts will total £14.1m. The consultation will run until December 3.

Mallon: "I cannot emphasise enough the importance of raising our council tax base and population so we get more Formula Grant from Goverment.

"We must raise the council tax base and not reduce it.

"Failure to do so will result in dire consequences for residents."

Mallon: Council tax must rise to cover the escalating bill of elderly people in Middlesbrough

Council tax must rise to cover the escalating bill of looking after elderly people in Middlesbrough, said Mayor Ray Mallon.

The elected mayor set out his Budget proposals at a full council meeting at Middlesbrough Town Hall last night.

Among the long list of cuts and charges to generate income for the local authority, Mr Mallon recommended an up to 2% rise in council tax.

He said the move was “not popular, but it was right”.

“I have spoken about this subject in some detail over the past 12 months and have stated that 53% of our budget at present is spent on looking after children and the elderly,” he said.By 2020, he said, approximately 73% of the budget will be spent on these services.

“As you are aware, adult social health care, due to an ageing population and the rise in older people suffering from dementia, will be a particular challenge,” he said.

“That is the main reason why we must raise our council tax base by building more houses and thereby attracting more population, so that we receive higher council tax revenues and greater Formula Grant from Central Government.”

On the budget cuts overall, he said the “world of councils” changed in October 2010 when George Osborne made his comprehensive spending review speech concerning the deficit and public borrowing.

“We’re always mindful of keeping the job loss figure as low as possible,” he said.

He said that services would be affected by the continuing cuts and job losses would total 600 by 2020.

He said the management of the responsibility for the sport and leisure centres – which includes the new Sports Village – would be transferred to an external trust, saving £430,000 in 2015-16 and up to £1.66m over a full year period.

The maintenance of Stewart Park will transfer to Askham Bryan College, saving £180,000.

Middlesbrough Council cuts: More job losses, more savings and rise in council tax proposed

Read our live blog of tonight's meeting here

Middlesbrough Council is facing the cuts axe again as Ray Mallon unveiled his proposals for another string of cost savings.

At Middlesbrough Town Hall tonight Mayor Mallon set out his proposals for the budget for 2015/16.

Among the key proposals raised were:

:: The budget slashed by £14.1m;

:: 770 jobs affected - including 220 job losses, 350 staff transferring from Mouchel to council and 200 transferring out;

:: Council tax will rise by up to 2%;

:: Funding for books in libraries to be cut by half;

:: More automated systems, fewer staff;

:: Charging for Newport Road bus lane misuse to generate an income of £30,000;

:: Removing funding for speech and language therapy in schools - making schools are responsible for the cost. A saving of £30,000;

:: No subsidies for bus services 12, 28, 29A, 537, 603, 605, 606 and 607.

The budget comprises a list of proposed 45 cuts and charges to generate income for the local authority.

There will now be a consultation period until December 3.

There will be another full council meeting on December 10 regarding the consultation process.

Staff will begin a consultation period regarding their jobs tomorrow morning.

The latest savings come after £15m of cuts in the current financial year.

A further £40m had been slashed from spending in the previous three years, which has seen community centres and libraries closed and services such as grass cutting and street cleaning reduced.

There have been 728 job losses at the council so far - with a further 600 job losses expected between now and 2019/20.

Mr Mallon added that most job losses would be down to voluntary redundancy and retirement.

He added that the council would endeavour to keep compulsory redundancies to a minimum.

Independent Cllr Len Junier said: "The council tax freeze is a scam. I agree with Mr Mallon on raising council tax."

Labour Cllr Bernie Taylor said: "The Labour Party has always supported the council tax rise."

Cllr Shamal Biswas said: "It's not the council's fault, it's the Government's. We have a tough job to do."

Read our live blog of tonight's meeting here

Teesside health officials aim to give children the best possible start in life

Health officials in Teesside gathered to discuss how they can ensure children are given the best possible start in life.

Worrying issues such as smoking and alcohol misuse in pregnancy were discussed at the children’s health conference today. .

The Teesside focussed conference was attended by key speakers from authorities and organisations including Middlesbrough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Council and Public Health England.

The conference, held at the Legends Lounge, at Middlesbrough Football Club, focused on giving participants an overview of the new commissioning landscape in relation to maternal, infant and child health in the Teesside area.

Rebecca Laidler, health improvement commissioning lead at Redcar and Cleveland Council said: “Today we are trying to raise awareness of the child health issues that we have locally.

“We are looking at the high impact areas to try and get a change in practice.

“We are also looking at how different practitioners can get involved and how we can work together to give our children and young people the best start in life.”

The conference was attended by general practice staff, Public Health teams, midwives, health visitors, school nursing teams, pharmacy staff as well as voluntary and community organisations and those working in education.

Julia Rostron, executive member of Middlesbrough Council said: “It’s about supporting families to give every child the best start.

“We have reduced funding and the gap is just going to get larger if we don’t do anything.”

Key speakers from the child health field spoke about various issues such as maternity and early years, which included maternal mental health, breastfeeding and smoking and alcohol misuse in pregnancy.

At the end of last year, The Gazette reported that the North-east had the worst rates of smoking in pregnancy in England, with Smoking at the Time of Delivery (SATOD) statistics showing nearly one in five (19%) women were smoking compared to around one in eight (12%) nationally.

Edward Kunonga, Director of Public Health at Middlesbrough Council is passionate about reducing inequalities and believes that giving children the best start in life is fundamental to improving population health and wellbeing.

He said: “We suffer here in this area and this has an effect on children’s health and their parents.”

Lindsay Johnson, Health Improvement Specialist at Middlesbrough Council, focuses her work around obesity, physical activity and nutrition and recently, children’s public health.

She said: “A healthy pregnancy is needed for a healthy birth and a healthy life.

“We are simply trying to raise the profile of the importance of maternal, infant and child health.”

Time running out to get application in for your child's secondary school place

Parents and carers of Year Six pupils across Teesside are urged to ensure they confirm their child’s secondary school place as soon as possible - with hundreds of applications still outstanding.

The national deadline for selecting school places for September 2015 is Friday, October 31.

So applications must be submitted soon to get students into their preferred school.

For more information about schools in our areas see the information below.

Middlesbrough

There are currently more than 300 applications still outstanding.

For more information contact 01642 201890/201856 or visit this link and search for ‘school admissions’.

Parents can apply online using their Unique Identification Number (UID) which was sent to them in their application pack in September.

Parent partnership officer/choice adviser Janet Beckwith is available to provide impartial advice and support for any parent/carer who needs it.

Contact her on 01642 201872 or via email on janet_beckwith@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Redcar and Cleveland

Information packs were sent out to parents or carers in August, guiding them through the process of registering and applying for places online at the Redcar and Cleveland Council website.

But many applications are still outstanding.

For information, call the school admissions department on 01642 837730/837740 or schools choice adviser Christine Morris on 01642 759074 between Monday and Wednesday.

To apply for places visit this link.

Stockton

This link provides information about deadlines and enquiry contact numbers.

For more information you can also contact the School Admissions Team on 01642 526605.

Ring between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am and 4.30pm Fridays.

You can also email school.admissions@stockton.gov.uk

North Yorkshire

You can find out more about the application process in this area here.

For help and support you can follow this link.

Tees teams pay tribute to fatal road accident teen Rhys Hewitt

Young footballers from across Teesside united as one in honour of a popular teenager who died after being hit by a car.

Fans and players stood side by side to remember 14-year-old Rhys Hewitt who was knocked down while crossing the road in his home town of Hartlepool last week.

He was taken to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital, but did not recover from his injuries.

As a mark of respect to the former Hartlepool Pools Youth Under 15s player, dozens of clubs from Teesside Juniors Football Alliance (TJFA) came together for a pre-kick-off minute’s silence on Sunday.

Organised through the group’s Grass Roots Facebook page, two dedicated mums, Shelley Nolan and Sharon Howells, rallied round and collected an impressive £900 with in hours of the charity launch. Donations will go towards flower arrangements for Rhys’s funeral, and the rest will be given to the teen’s family who are setting up a memorial fund.

Mum-of-three Shelly, who is team secretary for U12A TIBS in Ingleby Barwick, where her 11-year-old son Paddy plays, said the idea to start a collection was down to “being a mum.”

“We just did what we thought was best for Rhys’s family and we wanted to help in any way we could,” said Shelly, 42, also mum to Abbie, 13, and Lennon, six.

“It’s down to a mothers’ instinct. We are immensely proud of how our football community has come together in such tragic circumstances.

“And we want Rhys’s family to know we are deeply saddened by the loss of one our own.”

Funds were given an extra boost by Billingham business man Graeme McGregor of Johnson Matthey, who donated £1,000 to the pot.

Chairman of Cargo Fleet Juniors and one of the administrators for the Grass Roots page Shaun Quirk, said: “The respect, kindness, and generosity from everyone not only shows how much was thought of this Rhys; but beyond the rivalry. what a fantastic set of members with have. “What stands out for me is the way kids as young as six and as old as 18 stood together to remember a young lad most of whom won’t have even met or heard of him. And that is what shows the spirit between the clubs and players at its best.”

To make a donation visit the TJFA Facebook page.

Match report: Gateshead 1 Boro U21s 3

BORO’s Under-21s can now set their sights on claiming the Tees-Tyne bragging rights after extending their unbeaten run to seven matches.

Goals from Dael Fry, Jordan Jones and Callum Cooke helped the young guns to a 3-1 win at Gateshead in the Final Third Development League Cup this afternoon.

The win extends the team’s scintillating run of form since slipping to a disappointing opening day defeat at Derby County back in August.

Paul Jenkins made a number of changes to his side with Joseph Fryer, David Atkinson, Priestley Griffiths, Scott McCarthy, Robbie Tinkler and Junior Mondal all included in the starting line-up.

Following a first-half stalemate Boro took the lead on 57 minutes when Fry headed home Andre Bennett’s deep cross.

That lead was doubled on 82 minutes when Jordan Jones cut in from the left and wrapped a curling shot into the corner of the net.

Michael Rankine pulled a late goal back for Gateshead, before Cooke restored Boro’s two-goal advantage late on with a low 20-yard shot.

Boro will now look ahead to a huge week in their Barclays Under-21 Premier League Second Division campaign.

Jenkins’ in-form side face early league leaders Newcastle United at Victoria Park on Monday evening, followed by a long trip to Arsenal next Friday.

Teen punched ticket inspector after being told not to drink booze on bus

A teenager lashed out at a bus ticket inspector after being told to get off because he was drinking alcohol.

Lee Andrew Marks verbally abused the man before a “scuffle” ensued after he was confronted for consuming alcohol on the bus in Billingham.

The 19-year-old, who was subject to a suspended sentence at the time of the incident, was given a four-month prison sentence suspended for two years for the crime at Teesside Crown Court today.

“I have to consider, bearing in mind you are 19, whether it is necessary to lock you up now,” said Judge Tony Briggs.

“Be under no illusion - this does cross the custody threshold.”

The court heard that the ticket inspector had got on the number 52 Stagecoach bus at Belasis Avenue in Billingham at 9pm on October 23 last year.

He then approached the defendant and asked him to get off the service at the next stop because he was consuming alcohol.

Marks, of Westbury Street, Thornaby, then went to the front of the bus and started shouting abuse.

Prosecuting, Sue Jacobs said: “The defendant then stepped off the bus and thereafter there was a scuffle between the two.

“He then accepts there was a punch to the body.”

The court also heard a statement from the victim who said the incident has affected his working life.

His family are also “permanently on edge” while he is at work.

Uzma Khan, defending Marks, said the incident was a “drunken, impulsive response to a situation.”

“He is remorseful,” she said. “He would say he is not a violent person.”

“He had abstained from alcohol for 12 months,” she added.

Marks, who at the time of the offence was subject to a suspended sentence for aggravated vehicle taking and other traffic matters, pleaded guilty to assault.

Judge Briggs also ordered him to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

UK-first 'catalyst' fund will be expanded - and it all started on Teesside

A unique fund created to help Teesside companies bid for contracts is being expanded.

The £10m Tees Valley Catalyst Fund helps firms provide vital security for contracts that will ultimately create and sustain jobs in the area.

It’s been a major success since its launch last year, with firms including Stockton’s Wilton Engineering Services Ltd claiming the scheme will help them secure large contracts in the future.

Now its creators Teesside’s Local Enterprise Partnership TVU, is extending it across the North-east, after it caught the ‘attention and imagination’ of other firms.

The first of its kind in the UK, the fund was launched following feedback from companies, who claimed a lack of support in providing security for performance bond guarantees could be a barrier to growth. It offers a financial guarantee to a contractor that a supplier will deliver on time and to standard.

Backed by the Regional Growth Fund, the TVU (Tees Valley Unlimited) initiative gave Tees Valley companies the ability to bid for large commercial contracts, opening up new markets and opportunities and helping to further strengthen the local economy.

Performance bonds can cover a number of sectors, although generally cover high value products and are common in the oil and gas, construction, advanced engineering and offshore wind sectors.

Stephen Catchpole, TVU Managing Director, said: “The fund has proved to be an effective and efficient catalyst to Tees Valley companies wanting to bid for contracts. It has caught the attention and imagination of businesses outside Tees Valley and now the scheme’s geographical footprint is being extended outside the area.”

Award-winning Wilton Engineering Services Ltd (WES), which is based at Port Clarence, recently completed a £33m project for the world’s largest independent oil and gas exploration and production company, ConocoPhillips.

It has secured a £1.2m loan from the Fund to finance the project’s warranty bond with Lloyds Bank.

Established in 1994, Wilton is a specialist provider of services including design and consultancy, fabrication, coatings and site services to the offshore and marine industry.

Managing Director, Bill Scott believes the funding bodes well for the company’s future.

He said: “With the Tees Valley Catalyst Fund backing, we’ve been able to move away from using our working capital to cover warranty bonds and have been able to invest in the business to improve our facilities and resourcing. We’re now well-placed to bid for more contracts in future.”

Stephen Catchpole, TVU managing director, added: “The award to Wilton Engineering Services demonstrates how Tees Valley Catalyst Fund unlocks business opportunities and enhances companies’ capacity to deliver growth.”

Nicky Atkinson, Investment Executive at the fund’s manager, FW Capital, said: “Now it will be able to help ambitious North-east businesses take advantage of opportunities for growth and to access new markets.”

The fund helps businesses bid for new contracts by providing short-term finance from £100,000 to £2m to fund short-term advance payment guarantees, performance and warranty bonds as well as to extend existing bond facilities. Finance is typically available for up to 24 months.

The fund is expected to unlock almost £700m of additional work and support approximately 1,440 jobs in Tees Valley during the next ten years.

It is an ‘evergreen’ fund with interest and repayments on loans being ploughed back and recycled into new lending.

NEPIC boss Stan Higgins named European Cluster Manager of the Year 2014

The boss of Teesside-based NEPIC has been named European Cluster Manager of the Year 2014.

Stan Higgins, chief executive of the North East Process Industry Cluster at Wilton, fended off competition from across the continent to win the prestitious title.

He was crowned winner at the European Cluster Conference in Brussels.

The Award honours cluster managers in Europe for outstanding success stories and was open to every cluster manager in Europe to apply.

Stan was one of three nominated candidates who got the opportunity to present themselves and their work to 350 participants of the Conference. Delegates then selected their winner.

Stan, who was a runner-up in 2010 competition, said: “I am so immensely proud of the work of the 22-strong NEPIC team. Unlike the majority of cluster bodies across the EU we get zero financial support of cluster management from the UK Government so to win this prestigious international award says a huge amount about the way NEPIC is perceived internationally.

“This award reflects hugely on the support NEPIC gets from industry locally and from our international partners. Well done to my cluster colleagues who were also nominated for this award.”

NEPIC works across a broad range of chemistry using industries, such as bioprocessing, chemicals, polymers and composites, pharmaceuticals, specialities and renewable energy and low carbon materials, and their supply chains on Teesside and the wider region.

The North-east is a ‘globally significant’ region for the process industry, claims NEPIC, with more than 1,400 companies directly involved or in the supply chain of these sectors, generating £26bn of annual sales. They employ 190,000 people and export £12bn each year.

NEPIC works to provide a ‘collaborative’ for companies, make the region a more attractive environment for investors and raise the region’s international profile. It’s achieved a strong investment portfolio of 62 projects, totalling £6.5bn.

Business Supplement: Bridging the Skills Gap

The latest weather, traffic, travel, crime and breaking news updates from the Evening Gazette covering Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland and North Yorkshire for Monday 22nd September, 2014

Have a look at the Redcar budget document that's more complicated than work of Isaac Newton

Fancy a little light reading from the council’s treasury management policy statement?

We have reported today how Redcar and Cleveland Council's budget document is harder to understand than works by some of history's great thinkers - including Isaac Newton and Georg Hegel.

But what does the report actually say? Here's a taste for you to consider.

How about this: “The Local Government Act 2003 (the Act) and supporting regulations requires the Council to ‘have regard to’ the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) Prudential Code on Capital Finance and their Treasury Management Code of Practice to set Prudential and Treasury Indicators for the next three years to ensure that the Council’s capital investment plans are affordable, prudent and sustainable.

"The Act therefore requires the Council to set out its treasury strategy for borrowing and to prepare an Annual Investment Strategy (as required by Investment Guidance subsequent to the Act and included as paragraph 9 of this report); this sets out the Council’s policies for managing its investments and for giving priority to the security and liquidity of those investments.”

Or you may be relieved to hear the following: “As some types of capital expenditure incurred by the Council are not capable of being related to an individual asset, asset lives will be assessed on a basis that most reasonably reflects the anticipated period of benefit that arises from the expenditure.

"Also, whatever type of expenditure is involved, it will be grouped together in a manner that reflects the nature of the main component of expenditure and will only be divided up in cases where there are two or more major components with substantially different useful economic lives.

"On private finance schemes and finance leases transferring to the Council’s balance sheet under International Financial Reporting Standards the Council will adopt the annuity method when calculating MRP on these schemes.”

Juniors at Tennis World in Middlesbrough are hoping your Wish tokens will serve them well

A family tennis club in Teesside is hoping this year’s Wish campaign will serve them well.

Tennis World, on Marton Road in Middlesbrough, is a family orientated club which caters for all playing abilities from beginner to international standard.

The group has over 400 members aged between three and 83 who have access to four indoor tennis courts, four floodlit clay courts, three artificial grass courts and three cushion macadam performance courts.

The club runs training sessions in ‘Tots Tennis’ for those aged between three and five. There is also a ‘Mini Tennis’ group for children aged between four and nine. Junior sessions are also held for those aged nine and above and the club caters for adults ranging from beginners level to advanced.

The junior section of the club have entered the group into The Gazette’s Wish campaign this year to try and help fund new equipment.

Having entered the campaign last year, the group used the money they received to purchase new equipment for their ‘Mini Tennis’ programme. With the tokens they received they purchased new equipment and balls.

Nigel Garton, of the club said: “Any money we receive from this year’s Wish campaign will be used to purchase new equipment for mini tennis and junior tennis.”

Every year, The Gazette’s Wish campaign gives away thousands of pounds to not-for-profit groups and organisations benefiting the Teesside community.

Each registered group will be guaranteed a share of our £40,000 fund.

The more tokens a group collects, the bigger its share of the prize pot.

Tokens are now appearing in The Gazette. The last token will appear on January 21.

Submissions for tokens will close at 5pm on Monday, February 23.

To help Tennis World Juniors, send your tokens to: Tennis World, Prissick Base, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3SA.

Ex-Boro defender Emanuel Pogatetz stifles Arsenal legend Thierry Henry in MLS showdown

Emanuel Pogatetz got the better of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry on Sunday as Columbus Crew crushed New York Red Bulls 3-1 in the MLS.

The former Boro skipper came off the bench to play the whole second-half for Crew, and the Austrian proved a colossus at the back as he locked down Henry and former Charlton Athletic striker Bradley Wright-Phillips.

First-half goals from Aaron Schoenfeld and Ethan Finlay put Crew in total control in the Red Bull Arena, before Lloyd Sam trimmed the deficit in the 58th minute.

But Schoenfeld’s second-half strike secured the points for Crew and moved them up to fourth in the Eastern Conference table.

Pogatetz, who has made 61 appearances for Austria, admitted it was a difficult task keeping the New York attackers quiet but was delighted with the team’s win.

“I think (New York) has good quality up front, especially with Henry and (Wright-Phillips), but we defended very well and we looked dangerous on the counter-attack and that’s also how we scored,” Pogatetz told the club’s official site.

“Probably when they scored the goal we dropped a little too deep and didn’t keep the ball as well as we did at other times in the game, but what was really, really good was the response after they scored.

“We didn’t drop our standards and we didn’t panic. We just stuck to our gameplan and that’s why we deserved to win in the end.”

The no-nonsense defender signed a three-and-a-half year deal in Ohio this summer, having flitted between Germany and England since leaving the Riverside in 2010.

Despite his second-half heroics, Pogatetz is likely to stay on the bench for Crew’s match with Philadelphia Union on Sunday. A win for Crew will clinch the fourth play-off seed.

Pogatetz has been joined by ex-Boro attacker Kei Kamara at Crew, but he is not eligible to make his debut until January.

@keikamara

Emanuel Pogatetz and Kei Kamara

Ukip name Ian Neil and Steve Turner as candidates for Middlesbrough seats in General Election

UKIP have named their candidates to fight for two Teesside seats at next year’s General Election.

Ian Neil, a married dad-of-three from Ormesby, has been selected as the party’s candidate for Middlesbrough.

And Steve Turner has been chosen to run in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland.

Mr Turner is a 42-year-old father-of-three who lives with his wife Andrea on the outskirts of Redcar.

Originally from Dormanstown, just outside of Redcar, he left school at 16, going on to work in retail as well as jointly owning a small local business.

Mr Turner said “It is becoming increasingly apparent that we are the only alternative to Labour here and it will be a two-horse race between the both of us come next May”.

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland is currently held by Labour's Tom Blenkinsop with a majority of 1, 677.

Mr Turner's selection comes after UKIP enjoyed success on Teesside in recent European elections.

The party topped the poll in Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland - pushing Labour into second place in each area in May’s elections.

The support helped the Guisborough’s Jonathan Arnott become the party’s first North-east MEP.

An internal Liberal Democrat poll also indicated in May that the rise in popularity of UKIP could push the Lib Dems into third place in Redcar.

Mr Neil has worked in roles including working overseas for an electrical engineering company and at Middlesbrough Council as a building maintenance supervisor.

He has been a member of UKIP for four years and stood for the council election in the Zetland ward of Redcar in 2011.

“Middlesbrough is in desperate need of jobs that pay a living wage, jobs that are sustainable and be there for our children," he said

“We need to open training centres to allow our children to take up apprenticeships.

He added that more brownfield sites should be used for housing.

Middlesbrough is currently held by Labour's Andy McDonald with a majority of 8,211.

Teesside goal machine Danny Johnson secures loan move to Tranmere Rovers

Teesside goal machine Danny Johnson has secured a loan move to League Two side Tranmere Rovers.

The 21-year-old left Guisborough Town for Cardiff City in August, penning a one-year deal with the option of a further year with the Championship Bluebirds.

Having scored 59 goals with Guisborough last season and finishing top scorer in the Northern League, Johnson’s form attracted scouts from all over the country.

And to get valuable minutes under his belt Johnson yesterday signed a one-month loan deal with Tranmere to work under new boss Micky Adams.

“Danny was prolific for Guisborough last season and deserved his move to Cardiff”, Adams told the club’s official site.

“He’s a fantastic goalscorer who will be a real threat for us. Hopefully we can get him among the goals as quickly as possible.”

Johnson spent time on trial with Boro last season, and also scored the winner against Boro’s development side in Guisborough’s 1-0 North Riding Senior Cup final victory at the Riverside in April.

Morning news headlines: Dementia fears; high cost of foreign criminals; Clegg targets teacher workload

The Patients Association has condemned plans to pay GPs a £55 bonus to diagnose dementia as "a step too far".

NHS England confirmed family doctors would receive the cash under a new scheme in what is understood to be the first national initiative to reward doctors for diagnosing patients with a condition.

Under the scheme, doctors are said to be able to receive the money for every extra patient given a diagnosis of dementia over a six-month period.

Cost of foreign criminals revealed

Up to £1 billion of public money was spent last year on thousands of foreign criminals in the UK as hundreds living in the community - including dangerous offenders - went missing.

One in six - or 760 out of 4,200 - foreign national offenders (FNOs) living in the community have absconded, including 58 "high harm" individuals who have been missing since 2010, the Government's spending watchdog has revealed.

In a shocking report, the National Audit Office (NAO) also found police are failing to conduct overseas criminal record checks on more than two thirds of arrested foreign nationals.

Clegg to target teaching workload

Teachers are being forced to spend too much time on pointless box-ticking, form-filling and unnecessary work, Nick Clegg will warn today.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader is expected to say that he wants to end the "runaway train of bureaucracy", and free up teachers to spend more time in the classroom.

In a speech, Mr Clegg is due to call on school staff to put forward examples of paperwork and administration they believe should be scrapped or cut down, as well as potential solutions, as part of a new "workload challenge".

Father of IS hostage dies

The father of an Islamic State hostage has died, days after making an emotional plea for his son to be released, his family said.

Paul Cantlie, 80, died "from complications following pneumonia", according to a family statement.

He recorded an impassioned video message for his son John's captors earlier this month, calling on them to give the hostage up.

Watchdog to curb bogus charities

A charity watchdog is being promised tougher powers and an extra £8 million in an effort to put the squeeze on bogus good causes which divert cash to terrorism and other criminal activity.

David Cameron set out action to improve the enforcement efforts of the Charity Commission - which was sharply criticised last year over failures to tackle abuses - as he prepared to chair the latest meeting of the Government's Extremism Task Force.

"Today's changes will help make sure that when people donate to charity, their money always goes to genuinely good causes," the Prime Minister said.

Terror suspect denies charges

A British terror suspect extradited to the United States for allegedly conspiring with hook-handed extemist Abu Hamza has pleaded not guilty to terror charges.

Haroon Rashid Aswat, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, is accused by US authorities of working with Hamza in 1999 to set up a Jihadist training camp in Oregon.

He was taken from Broadmoor psychiatric hospital and escorted on to a plane by US officials, the Metropolitan Police said yesterday.

Energy complaints could be higher

Unresolved complaints about energy suppliers could be five times higher than official figures suggest - leaving up to half a million households and small businesses a year missing out on compensation or facing long delays, Labour said.

Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint seized on research by regulator Ofgem which found that only 5% of eligible cases - where a customer has received no response for eight weeks or remains dissatisfied with it - have been referred to the Energy Ombudsman.

She will use a speech at the Energy UK conference to launch a fresh assault on energy firms, warning any that repeatedly mistreat customers could be stripped of their licences by a new, more-powerful, watchdog and renewing a pledge to impose a price freeze.

Final Bellingham interview screened

The late Lynda Bellingham poignantly described the details of the Christmas she would never see during her final TV interview which will be screened today.

The actress had hoped for one more festive season after choosing to end treatment for her cancer, but died at the weekend just days after she had made public her decision.

In the interview for Loose Women - a show for which she had been a regular panellist for a number of years - she assured her friends and colleagues all would be "fine" and said she longed to be remembered for her honesty.

Drones concerns raised

Drones use in British skies will expand rapidly over the next 20 years, posing a serious security risk and significant privacy concerns, intelligence experts have warned.

Shopping centres, sporting events and public rallies face being exposed to chemical or biological attacks by terror groups exploiting unmanned aircraft, research led by a former director of GCHQ has found.

Terrorists could also turn the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) into flying bombs by hooking them up to improvised explosive devices, according to the University of Birmingham Policy Commission Report.

Kate Bush in line for Q awards

Comeback queen Kate Bush is up for a pair of prizes at the annual Q Awards on the strength of her stage return after 35 years.

Kasabian lead the nominations for the magazine's prize bash after being shortlisted for four trophies while Arctic Monkeys are in the running for three when they are staged next month.

Bush - who has performed a series of sell-out shows at the Hammersmith Apollo in London - competes for the titles of best act in the world today and best live act.

She has previously been ineligible for the live title in the awards' 25-year history because she had effectively retired from live performance after her only real tour in 1979.

Man admits part in police chase that ended with him dashing into pub to hide

A speeding driver who rushed into a Stockton pub to try to escape dozens of police officers has admitted his part in a dramatic car chase.

Douglas Ward appeared in court charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

The bell had just rung for last orders at The Rimswell earlier this month when Ward rushed in - closely followed by a number of police officers.

The police helicopter hovered over the Bishopton Road West pub while about half a dozen police cars and several unmarked police vehicles parked up in the pub’s car park.

The 25-year-old pleaded guilty to the charges yesterday via video-link from Holme House prison.

Durham Police had alerted Cleveland’s roads policing unit after a car failed to stop in the Darlington area, then drove off towards Stockton, shortly before 11pm on Sunday, October 5.

The vehicle was pursued by the police helicopter along Darlington Back Lane and into Stockton, where it pulled into the pub’s car park.

Steve Sharp, landlord of Fairfield pub, described the “surreal events” that followed.

“Last orders had gone when police came in and said ‘Where is he?’,” he told The Gazette.

“The barmaid had seen the guy go into the toilet and then into the bar.

“One of the customers then spotted him going behind the bar where he snuck upstairs into my flat.

“The police all chased upstairs and checked the room but there was no sign.

“The next thing I knew they were bringing him down.”

Steve, 48, who has been landlord of The Rimswell for two years, said the fugitive had climbed out of a window on to the pub’s roof, but was quickly spotted by police outside.

“The police were very thorough,” he added. “They were looking in the fridge at one point, for the car keys.

"They found them in the toilet in a hoodie.

“The guy never said anything at all when they brought him down. I said ‘Tell him he’s barred!’”

Steve said 15 to 20 customers were still in the pub at the time.

“It all happened that quick,” he said. “It was all surreal - police helicopters and dogs. They were all giant coppers as well.”

Ward, of Throstlenest Avenue, in Darlington, appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

He will return to be sentenced on November 11.