Middlesbrough based fabrication firm Jalna take on two more staff

A Middlesbrough based fabrication firm has appointed two new members to its team as it prepares for future growth.

Family-run Jalna Construction, which specialises in fabrication, marine and offshore engineering services, has taken on Gary Lumby MBE and graduate Samantha Wanless, to help secure the company’s long-term growth and success.

With a wealth of experience in consulting, finance, marketing and business strategy, Gary has been hired as Jalna’s first non-executive director.

He said: “I know that if we can implement the correct strategy, backed up with great customer service and the appropriate accreditations, we can grow the business significantly.

“I hope to help make Jalna the leading provider of fabrication and light engineering services in the North.”

Speaking of Gary’s appointment, commercial director Richard Horner said: “Gary’s expertise in larger organisations will help us massively. It’s really exciting watching our vision become a reality and success.”

Having successfully run several businesses, as well as being a non-executive director for ten other companies, the MBE’s knowledge and experience will certainly prove invaluable for the company’s development.

Jalna also believes in the importance of supporting local graduates. Recent business and management graduate, Samantha is relishing the opportunity of working for the local firm as business administrator after studying at Durham University’s Stockton campus.

She said: “It’s a great time to be a part of the company.

“Being given the opportunity to assist in its planned expansion and being a part of Jalna’s success makes me very proud of the team I have joined”.

Commenting on Samantha’s new role, Richard said: “Relatively low numbers of graduates remain in the area after finishing university. It’s important for local companies to encourage graduates to stay and work in the region, not only for the benefit of the business but the local economy too.”

Jalna, which aims to increase its turnover by 20% this year, recently celebrated the sail of The Gracie Ava, the first ship to launch from Teesside in over 20 years.

New chief executive at NEL fund Managers as Barrie Hensby steps down following 25 years at the helm

NEL Fund Managers has appointed a new chief executive as Barrie Hensby steps down following a 25 year stint at the helm.

Dr Yvonne Gale, who has been with the regional fund management firm for 13 years, has stepped into the top role, with Mr Hensby taking on the position of chairman.

Dr Gale, who was previously the firm’s operations director, holds both a Masters and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Northumbria University.

She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) and holds the Institute of Directors’ Certificate and Diploma in Company Direction, for which she studied at Durham University.

Prior to joining NEL in 2003, she worked in financial management roles for a range of well-known businesses, including Newcastle Arena, Scotts Hotels, The Officers Club and Unitech Open Systems Ltd.

Dr Gale has served as a board director for both NEL and a number of its investee companies, focusing on their strategy, delivery and resourcing, as a member of NEL’s investment and portfolio committees, which she now chairs.

“NEL has been at the heart of the North East business community for more than a quarter of a century, and our investments have helped to create and sustain many thousands of regional jobs across hundreds of companies,” she said.

“Taking on the mantel of leading the NEL team into a new era is an exciting challenge for me, and the expertise that they make available locally is invaluable in helping companies achieve their commercial objectives.

“The flow of enquiries from North East businesses looking to implement development plans with our investment support remains strong, and we’re actively looking to invest around £3m during 2015 in these sorts of ambitious firms.

“Barrie will be a hard act to follow, but he’ll continue to be closely involved with the business and his unrivalled knowledge of the North East’s investment culture will still be readily at hand.”

NEL is the North East’s most active business investors, putting more than £92m into companies across the region since its establishment in 1989.

Many of these businesses have gone on to achieve national and international success.

Over the last five years, NEL has been responsible for the management of the Finance For Business North East Growth Fund, and has fully invested the £23m available through it in 85 North East companies.

Mr Hensby said: “The North East economy has changed out of all recognition in the 25 years that I’ve been at the NEL helm, and there’s still a huge amount of potential to be realised.

“It’s pleasing to look back at the successes we’ve enjoyed over the years, both from our own point of view and that of the many investees that have achieved great things, and to now be part of a confident, outward-looking region that can look to compete with rivals anywhere in the world.”

NECC: 'Growth opportunities could be missed if gender imbalance isn't tackled'

North-east East business leaders are urging the future government to back women in business, if the region is to meet its economic potential.

The North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) has launched its general election programme for women in business through its Women’s Advisory Board.

It includes calls for action to encourage greater levels of female entrepreneurship, maximise employment and career opportunities for women - and bridge the gender gap in skills.

Nickie Gott, Chair of NECC’s Women’s Advisory Board, said: “Our general election programme for women in business is a fundamental element to growing the success of our region.

“The North-east’s economy does not perform below potential because of the poor performance of its businesses, but because it does not have enough businesses. Female entrepreneurs have been making a huge contribution to addressing this deficit and we need to build on this.

“Women have different skills and with tailored business support, targeted advice programmes and focused efforts to reduce youth unemployment among females, more women can get a foot on the career ladder and help drive North-east business forward.”

NECC Director of Policy, Ross Smith said: “Growth opportunities could be missed if the gender imbalance is not tackled.

“We want to see focused efforts to increase girls’ interests in digital and STEM subject areas through schools, colleges and universities to increase interest in joining these sectors.

“We have launched our programme for women in business because we want businesses in the North East to be globally competitive, and it has been shown that businesses making the most of female talent perform better.”

Jo Hand, Managing Director, Jo Hand Recruitment is also supporting the programme. “In order to set a good example to future generations we need to promote greater numbers of female leaders in entrepreneurship, the private sector, politics, government and the public sector,” she said.

Institution of Civil Engineers President pays visit to major Teesport development

VIEW GALLERY

One of the UK’s top engineers visited a major development at Teesport to launch a national campaign raising public awareness about his sector.

PD Ports’ reconstruction of Quay 1 at Teesport is a key project for regional infrastructure.

Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) President, Professor David Balmforth, met the team behind the upgrade - and called for the North-east to “secure its fair share” of infrastructure investment.

He visited Teesside during a two-day North-east visit to launch This is Civil Engineering.

The ICE wants to get the message across that long-term investment in infrastructure improves quality of life for the public, regenerates communities - and creates jobs.

The Quay 1 upgrade will increase Teesport’s capacity to handle larger ships.

More than 300 metres of Quay 1 - built in the 1950s - has been demolished and transformed, allowing larger vessels to berth and make port operations more flexible.

Phase one of the project is on target for completion by building contractor McLaughlin and Harvey later this month.

The ICE is one of the pre-eminent engineering institutions in the world, with 80,000 members - and provides a voice for civil engineering, continuing professional development and promoting best practice throughout the industry.

Its initiative forms part of a wider Commit to Infrastructure General Election campaign by the leading engineering body.

Professor Balmforth said: “Teesport is a fantastic example of the value that first class infrastructure brings to this region.

“The North-east needs to secure its fair share of infrastructure investment in the future if it is to realise its full potential as one of the major economic regions of the UK.”

PD Ports’ major investment in its bulk handling facilities at Teesport joins other civil engineering projects around the country also raising their banners as part of the campaign launch fortnight.

Projects are also highlighting their benefits via social media forums such as Twitter and Instagram.

The President’s visit culminated with the ICE North East Annual Dinner at Newcastle’s Gosforth Marriott Hotel.

Winning promotion would top Cardiff or Eindhoven says Ben Gibson

Tonight’s Boro game is bigger than the 2004 Carling Cup final or the 2006 UEFA Cup final, according to Ben Gibson.

The England Under-21 defender believes the financial riches on offer the clubs in the Premier League means winning promotion will top every other achievement.

Victory for Boro at Norwich in tonight’s televised six pointer will put the club in a fantastic position to clinch a place in the top flight without having to endure the play-offs.

Defeat, however, would leave Aitor Karanka’s side four points behind City with just two games remaining.

Losing would also mean current leaders Bournemouth would be two points better off than Boro with a game in hand while Watford will have a one point advantage with three to play.

“It all boils down to this game,” said Gibson. “It is do or die. We have got to go there and win. You need three wins from three if you want automatic promotion.

“I would say this is the biggest game in the club’s history. The way the Premier League is and the gap financially makes this our biggest game ever.

“If we get back in the Premier League it’s different to the last time. It has more of an impact, financially, than what the UEFA Cup or Carling Cup final did.

“It’s £100m for going up, that is irreplaceable. It will have a bigger effect on the club and the town than winning the cup.”

“We all know financially what the difference is between Championship and the Premier League. The affect it has on the town is massive.

“This is as big a finish to the season as any of them.”

Gibson, who has established himself in the first team this season, reckons all the pressure is on Norwich going into tonight’s Carrow Road showdown.

He also insists Boro would have gladly taken a place in the play-offs at the start of the season.

But now that automatic promotion is achievable, the players are desperate to seal a top two finish.

“At the start of the season if you’d offered us the play-offs we would have snapped your hand off,” he said. “To have got that in the bag and now with three games to achieve automatic promotion is something we would have dreamt of at the start of the season.

“It’s our best opportunity to get back in the Premier League. We haven’t even been in the play-offs (since relegation). Now we are here we are looking to follow that through.

“The pressure is on the top three. If we beat Norwich we go two points ahead of them and you hope Bournemouth and Watford slip up.”

US urges Iran to respect UN arms embargo on Yemen

The United States yesterday called on Iran to respect the United Nations Security Council’s newly passed arms embargo on Yemen and stop supporting Shia Houthi rebels there, the Anadolu Agency reported.

“Obviously Iran plays a role here given their support for the Houthis,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters.

“And I think what would be most helpful from the Iranian side at this point is to respect this newly imposed UN arms embargo that was just passed today and stop supporting the Houthis,” she said.

Harf said the US was aware that Iran has been “incredibly destabilising in places in the region”.

The UNSC voted with an overwhelming majority yesterday in favour of a resolution imposing an arms embargo against the Houthi rebels in Yemen and blacklisted the son of Yemen’s former president and a Houthi leader. Russia abstained from the vote.

A Saudi-led coalition launched in March a military offensive against Houthi rebel sites in Yemen which Riyadh says comes in respond to a request by the country’s President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi to intervene militarily to protect the Yemeni people

Why business on Teesside is NOT dying - and why Nifco is its beating heart

Wednesday's Nifco advert

Business on Teesside has NOT died - in fact it is in rude good health.

Yesterday’s Gazette featured an advert stating that jobs for women were available on ‘Teessdie’ at manufacturing business Nifco UK.

Today, we are delighted to confirm that Teesside is not dead – far from it, in fact.

The region's economy is alive and well - and at the beating heart of it is Nifco.

The company plans to create more jobs for men and women in the area over the years to come.

Nifco hopes to be a £75 million company by 2016 - and is increasing its head count year on year.

That's why the advert should have read that the Stockton-based firm was Engineering jobs for women on Teesside.

George Osborne talks about the Northern Powerhouse during a visit to Nifco in February

Bob Cuffe, managing director of Gazette Media Company, said: “Occasionally, errors slip through the net and the use of ‘Teessdie’ was just that.

"Apologies to readers for this – business in our area is very much alive and kicking and we will always champion it!”

Mike Matthews, managing director and European operations officer at Nifco UK, said the firm had see some fun-poking on Twitter about the error.

"We would like to make sure people know all is good and well," he added.

"And anyone looking to join a company that is very much alive, well and growing should visit our website to find out more about us.”

The Nifco advert in Friday's Gazette

Read more about Nifco HERE

Nigeria marks one year since mass abduction of schoolgirls

ABUJA: Nigeria’s president-elect Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday cautioned he could not make promises on the return of 219 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram, as the country marked the first anniversary of their abduction. The comments by Buhari, who takes office on May 29, stand in contrast to outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan, who has repeatedly said the girls will be found, and the military, which said last year it knew where the teenagers were being held.

A march was held in Abuja symbolically involving 219 schoolgirls, part of a number of events around the world to mark the abduction, which Amnesty International said was one of 38 since the start of last year that had seen at least 2,000 women taken by the militants. The UN and African rights groups also called for an end to the targeting of boys and girls in the conflict, which has left at least 15,000 dead and some 1.5 million people homeless, 800,000 of them children.

Buhari said there was a need for “honesty” in his new government’s approach to the girls’ abduction, with nothing seen or heard from the students since last May when they appeared in a Boko Haram video.

“We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued. Their whereabouts remain unknown. As much as I wish to, I cannot promise that we can find them,” he said in a statement.

“But I say to every parent, family member and friend of the children that my government will do everything in its power to bring them home.”

Schoolgirls, wearing red T-shirts and holding placards with the kidnapped girls names on them, marched to the education ministry to demand the hostages’ immediate release.

“We, the Chibok Girls Ambassadors, are demanding that the government of Nigeria should give us clear details of what is being done to bring back our sisters,” said one, Rebecca Ishaku.

“We ask that the government, as a matter of priority, makes education safe in all parts of Nigeria while prioritizing the return of our sisters.”

The UN special envoy on education, Britain’s former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, described the campaign as “the most iconic fight of a freedom struggle.”

“The fight will be won some day. No injustice can last forever. But for the sake of these girls, it must be won soon,” he wrote in The Guardian newspaper. Chibok elder Enoch Mark, whose daughter and niece are among the captives, said no events were planned in the town, as it was still in “perpetual fear” of Boko Haram, despite the presence of troops.

“The last year has been a period of sadness, emotional torment and hardship. It has been a year of mourning. We are a bereaved community that has lost 219 daughters,” he said. Buhari was now their hope of finding the girls, dead or alive, he said, pointing to the former army general and military ruler’s success in putting down a similar rebellion in 1984. Boko Haram fighters stormed the Government Secondary School in Chibok on the evening of April 14 last year, seizing 276 girls who were preparing for end-of-year exams.

Fifty-seven escaped soon afterwards. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has since said the remainder have all converted to Islam and been “married off.”

'He died in the ambulance but they got him back', and now Nathaniel Artley is back home with mum

VIEW GALLERY

Look at that big cheeky grin.

It’s hard to imagine that just five weeks ago this cute little boy, blowing bubbles and playing with his mum, was fighting for his life after being hit by a car outside his house in Middlesbrough.

Four-year-old Nathaniel Artley was left with horrific life-threatening injuries after being hit by a taxi on Cotswold Avenue on Sunday, March 8.

He underwent surgery and was put on a life support machine at Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

His condition improved and he was taken off life support and moved to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Now he is back home with his relieved mum, Katrina Verrill, 35, who has recalled the terrifying moment she thought she had lost him.

After running out of the house and seeing him lying on the road, she scooped him up into her arms and brought him inside.

“I gave a curdling scream ‘He is dead’ and kept shouting at him to stay with me,” she said through her tears.“He lifted his right arm and looked at me. I have seen the death stare before but when it was your own child, that was it, his eyes were black.

“He died in the ambulance but they got him back.”

Nathaniel Artley

Katrina, who has three other children, Rebecca, 16, who lives in Scotland with her dad, and Carlos, 11, and Lennox, eight, said no one thought Nathaniel was going to survive his injuries which included a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, two collapsed lungs, a broken rib, split spleen, perforated liver and pancreas and tears to his ear and the skin on his back and heel.

“He was smashed up,” said Katrina. “No-one knows just how bad he was. I have seen him suffer.

“When you look at him now you just can’t believe how he was. I thought I’d lost him.

“Every day he is bouncing back. Each target that was set he was achieving it and more.

“He is a proper little super hero.”

Neighbours and friends rallied round Katrina as she stayed by her son’s bedside and raised money to help the family.

They decorated the front room and the money has been spent on decorating Nathaniel’s room with Avengers - “superheroes like him” - and a DVD player for him as well as a cooker and beds for their home and a car.

She said a charity night, which was recently cancelled, will still be held, but will be a “thank you” to all those who supported her rather than a money-raising event.

“I just want to thank everyone who helped us,” she said.

Cotswold Avenue in Pallister Park, Middlesbrough

Katrina said a catalogue of “little things” led to the accident.

They had recently returned from a refuge and were only at the house setting up home ready to move in the following week.

She said before their time in the refuge “he would never have ran out of the house like that”.

She said she normally kept the front door locked but they had just returned from the shop and Nathaniel had hidden her keys “like the mischievous kid he is”.

When he heard an ice cream van pull up, he asked his mum for one but she said no as he had just had one.

Before she knew it he had ran out and been hit by a car.

Katrina has to keep an eye on his brain activity and behaviour to check how he is recovering from his brain injury and also try and protect the boisterous lad from knocking his healing scars.

“It’s so hard trying to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself,” she said.

“It’s like he’s gone back over a couple of years with his speech and his behaviour but it’s early days.

“I’m overwhelmed he is back home again. I’m happy he is here - he is my superhero.”

Watch: Life-long Norwich fan Ed Balls admits to nerves ahead of Boro clash

I managed to grab Ed Balls for five minutes as he swept through Gazette Towers on his whistle stop tour of Teesside marginals man marked by a posse of spin-doctors.

With a keen populist radar and knowing what plays well in these parts he agreed to have a quick chat about the Championship crunch with the Canaries and how Labour would handle the political football of the national game should they get into power .

It was supposed to be literally five minutes but it went deep into extra time as his people indicated "wind it up"- he is clearly a real football fan and I think he was happy to take a break from breaking big picture fiscal policy into bullet points on the hustings.

And he is a real football fan. In a world when any populist politician can pick a coloured rosette and pledge loyalty to a "soccer" club, this is a bloke who cut his terrace teeth watching Norwich in Division Three (South).

He knows his stuff. He came alive and had a twinkle in his eye when talking about lowly Norwich beating mighty Leeds when he was a nipper, his heroes in his formative years in the seventies and of the unlikely UEFA Cup victory over Bayern. He is either for real or his PR people have breifed him exceptionally well.

And he is up to speed with the current campaign too. He gave a precise and accurate analysis of the way Norwich are playing under Alex Neil and knows exactly what the permutations are at the top. And he's arranged his election diary to make sure he can get to the game on Friday.

On the big issues - ownership models, the grip of the Premier League and safe standing - there was some deft footwook as he outlined Labour's fan-friendly progressive positions without committing to legislation.

He came across as engaging and genuinely animated over the game although you suspect his stated wish that Norwich AND Boro go up may have been cutely tailored to his audience. In return I wished Norwich well for the rest of the season - after Friday.

Before we started he asked if I did match reports and I said no, I'm a cultural correspondent, enmeshed in the barbed wire of the pyscho-drama. If that pops up as a sound-bite in the coming weeks I'm claiming it as an assist.

Watch: Ed Balls discusses Labour's position on football with Anthony Vickers

Corner shop linked to heroin conspiracy could be shut down over sales of 'pear cider'

A corner shop linked a major heroin conspiracy could be shut down after it was found illicitly selling "pear cider".

Drug-dealing shop boss Azhar Ali was jailed for six years and eight months last year after taking a delivery of two kilos of heroin worth £100,000 at the Cumberland Road Convenience Store in Linthorpe.

Cleveland Police has now applied for a review of the store’s licence “on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety”.

Officers say the shop has continued to breach licensing rules.

A review into the store’s licence will be held by Middlesbrough Council next Wednesday.

A Cleveland Police statement submitted before the hearing said a police licensing check last November found:

:: Perry products being sold in breach of the licence;

:: Problems with training records;

:: CCTV not being kept for the length of time required under the licence.

The Collins dictionary defines perry as being "alcoholic drink made of pears, similar in taste to cider".

“Given the issues surrounding the premises and the continued breach of licensing conditions, Cleveland Police have no alternative but to make an application to review the license,” the statement adds.

The force also raised concerns over a sub-letting of the premises - despite conditions placed on owner Arshad Ali that he would not lease the business.

Next Wednesday’s licensing hearing will also hear an application by Mr Ali to transfer the premises licence to Mahmood Hassan.

Azhar Ali, a dad-of-four, previously served a four-year jail sentence for a similar drugs conspiracy that had been a family enterprise.

Azhar Ali and Michael Wild

The courier Michael Wild, 51, from Rotherham, who was also dealing in cocaine to fund his own £700 a week addiction, was jailed for five years and eight months.

Wild drove up in his car at 8.30am but he left because Ali was not there.

Ali arrived a few minutes later and he was seen taping up a Bourbon creams biscuit box which contained £21,000 in cash as part payment.

Wild returned with a red, white and blue sports bag stuffed with two packages of heroin, and the police sprung the trap as he got back into his car with the cash.

Ali, of Park Road, Stockton, and Wild, of Lyndale Gardens, Rotherham, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and Wild also admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and possession of cannabis at Teesside Crown Court last November.

NYSD cricket preview: Club-by-club guide as rivals strengthen in pursuit of title

The 2015 NYSD season gets under way in earnest on Saturday with the race for the Premier Division title likely to be one of the most closely contested in living memory.

With champions Darlington and runners-up Richmondshire having lost key players over the winter their three year dominance of the top two positions could be set to end with several of their challengers appearing to have recruited well.

And it will be no less intense near the foot of the table with the two-year restructure of the league meaning it will initially be much harder to return to the top flight for the relegated duo. Here’s a run through of the major changes at each Premier Division club:

BARNARD CASTLE

Captain: James Finch.

Professionals: Aamer Sajjad (Pakistan) and Finch.

In: Josh Mason (Australian amateur), Josh Bousfield (Stockton), James Alderson (Bishop Auckland).

Out: Ben Turner (Working in Brisbane), Dan Wilkinson (Brandon).

Prospects: A great season last year with two major cup wins.

Turner will be a miss, he topped the league’s amateur batting averages last year, but with Bousfield returning to his home club and still on Durham’s books, and world batting record holder Sajjad back for a third term, watch out for Barney.

DARLINGTON

Captain: Matthew Brown

Professionals: Liam Coates and Doug Mulholland.

In: Paul Freary (Blaydon).

Out: Jonny Barnes (Mainsforth), Peter Armstrong (Norton), Dan Hodgson (Farsley), Rajin Saleh (Bangladesh).

Prospects: The Quakers were worthy champions but the loss of Barnes in particular is a blow.

Leading bowler by a mile last year, he’ll be a major miss as will ex-skipper Armstrong and Yorkshire’s Hodgson who now lives in Leeds.

Freary is an accomplished bat but there may be too big a hole in their resources for Darlo to mount a determined defence of their title.

GREAT AYTON

Captain: David Grainge.

Professionals: Chris Batchelor and Whalid Ghauri.

In: Barry Bester (Australian amateur), Whalid Ghauri (Middlesbrough).

Out: Nick Hendrie (South Africa).

Prospects: The short format kings, current North of England T20 champions and triple Macmillan Cup winners, have only lost Hendrie, but he was a big influence.

Ghauri has the ability to score loads of runs, while Bester could be a force with the ball as the Aytonians go in search of consistency in the league.

GUISBOROUGH

Captain: Chris Allinson.

Professionals: Karl Turner (ex-Notts, Hampshire and Durham) and Chris Nicholls.

In: Turner (South Northumberland), Nicholls (Marske) Dan Conway (Saltburn), Connor Whitelock (Sedgefield).

Out: Roshen Silva (Sri Lanka).

Prospects: Major changes with four new faces on board. Turner has an excellent pedigree – he set an NEPL scoring record last season for the Bulls – while Nicholls and Conway are well known.

Young Whitelock has Durham prospects and will add balance to the attack.

Should be capable of improving on last year’s sixth place finish.

HARTLEPOOL

Captain: Mike Yuill.

Professionals: Shani Dissanayake (Sri Lanka) and Jon Rickard.

In: Dissanayake (Richmondshire), Lewis Stabler (Richmondshire), John Watson (Saltburn).

Out: Marc Symington (Norton), Craig Symington (Norton).

Prospects: All left arm pace attack could trouble a few opponents, and Dissanayake’s qualities are well known after 12 years of inspiring Richmond.

Other signings could also be in the offing.

That said, the Symington brothers will be hard to replace as the club aim for a top five finish.

Middlesbrough's Brett Roberts has joined Marske

MARSKE

Captain: Jonathan Pickard.

Professionals: Saeed Bin Nasir (Pakistan) and Lee Hodgson (Marton).

In: Bin Nasir, Hodgson, Ullrich Boshoff (New Zealand amateur), Brett Roberts (Middlesbrough).

Out: Chris Nicholls (Guisborough), Nadeera Nawela (Sri Lanka).

Propsects: A bit too close to the relegation zone for comfort last time out.

They look to have made some good signings, Bin Nasir has almost 10,000 first-class runs…and watch out for 18-year-old Kiwi Boshoff who played for Auckland’s Under-19s national championship winning side just a few months ago.

With Hodgson on board they look to have plenty of batting power, but without Nicholls’ bowling skills their attack could be under pressure.

MARTON

Captain: Chris Simpson.

Professionals: Hasantha Fernando (Sri Lanka) and Alex Roberts (Back from Australia).

In: Fernando, Roberts, Jack Hardy (Darlington), Jack Ward (Blackhall).

Out: Lee Hodgson (Marske), Neil Russell (Redcar), Chris Veazey (Redcar), Sam Jones (Australia).

Prospects: All change after a lacklustre 2014.

All-rounder Fernando has played two Test matches and has a good first-class record, while Roberts is well known in NYSD circles, returning to the country after four-and-a-half years in Australia.

Good acquisitions, important losses – judgement reserved.

Middlesbrough skipper James Lowe

MIDDLESBROUGH

Captain: James Lowe.

Professionals: Lowe and Stephen Reeves (South Africa).

In: David Embleton (Australian amateur), Omar Shahid (South Hetton), Reeves.

Out: Brett Roberts (Marske), Whalid Ghauri (Great Ayton), Reece Wood (Blackhall).

Prospects: The club are looking for a top six finish with a cup win tagged on.

Embleton has form in England having played for Crook for two seasons, but 19-year-old Reeves is an unknown quantity. The same can’t be said of Shahid who has had plenty of clubs in recent years before returning to the Boro.

NORMANBY HALL

Captain: Leigh Beaumont.

Professionals: Sachithra Serasinghe (Sri Lanka) and James Clarkson (Richmondshire).

In: Serasinghe, Clarkson and Adam Beaumont (Thornaby).

Out: Lee Hutton (Mainsforth).

Prospects: Back in the top flight, with clearly stated aim of consolidating.

Serasinghe has played for Sri Lanka A and with almost 5,000 runs and 168 wickets at first-class level, the 28-year-old, who has experience of English conditions, could be a match winner.

NORTON

Captain: Matthew Thomas.

Professionals: None.

In: Marc Symington, Craig Symington (both Hartlepool), Peter Armstrong (Darlington), Andy Parr (Stockton).

Out: Chris Fawcett (retired), Kenny Gresham (work).

Prospects: It’s back to the future at Norton.

The newly-promoted club have brought in a batch of highly experienced old boys, with the Symington brothers and ex-Quakers championship winning skipper Armstrong providing plenty of nous and no little skill.

REDCAR

Captain: Dale Metcalfe.

Professionals: Usman Arshad (Pakistan), Muhammed Zahid.

In: Arshad, Chris Veazey (Marton), Neil Russell (Marton).

Out: Muhammad Saad (Pakistan).

Prospects: Added bags of experience in Veazey and Russell, and it is hoped that Arshad will score the runs to ensure Saad isn’t missed.

Only won three league games last year and will be looking for an improved return.

RICHMONDSHIRE

Captain: Gary Pratt.

Professionals: Pratt and Toby Bulcock (Cumberland).

In: Bulcock.

Out: Shani Dissanayke, Lewis Stabler (both Hartlepool), James Clarkson (Normanby Hall).

Prospects: The Dalesmen have been the top performers for the last three years with two titles and a runner-up slot, but they have lost three big players.

The 24-year-old Bulcock, one of Pratt’s Minor Counties teammates and a Lancashire age group player, will provide left arm spin quality, but whether on his own he can bridge the gap left by the departures is open to question.

Stokesley's Andrew Weighell plays a shot

STOKESLEY

Captain: Andrew Weighell.

Professionals: Shrikant Wagh (India) and James Weighell.

In: Wagh, Jack Craig (Australian amateur).

Out: Dieter Klein (Kendal),Will Brown (work).

Prospects: In the championship race until the final few weeks last year, and hoping for more of the same.

Left arm paceman Wagh comes highly recommended by Northallerton legend Teddy Parida, and James Weighell has proved his fitness in a successful spell in Australia.

SEATON CAREW

Captain: Martin Skirving.

Professionals: Sanjaya Rodrigo (Sri Lanka) and Danny Evans.

In: Chandi Rodrigo (Sri Lanka overseas amateur).

Out: None.

Prospects: Hoping to build on a steady debut year in the top flight.

The Rodrigo brothers could work well together, with Chandi enjoying a decent season of club cricket in Surrey last year, while Seaton’s excellent junior structure is producing plenty of good home grown talent.

Your Pub in Pictures: The Devil's Advocate, Middlesbrough

VIEW GALLERY

Pub name: The Devil’s Advocate

Address: 89 Borough Road, Middlesbrough

Landlord/manager: Gary Bainbridge

How long have you been at the pub? One year.

What’s your recent history as a landlord? Oddfellows, Thornaby, in 2002 and Green Tree, Yarm, in 2000.

Tell us three of your best selling drinks: Kozel lager, Fruli strawberry beer and Portland stout.

Tell us why you think your pub is one of the best on Teesside? It’s a small bar with a big welcome - and its own resident magician.

What is your most popular night and why do you think it is? Every night is a popular night. Come and join us for great banter and magic for everyone.

Midwinter of the Spirit role for Teesside actress Sally Messham

Talented Teesside actress Sally Messham will soon be gracing TV screens across the UK after landing a leading role in a new drama series.

Sally, of Norton, can look forward to a glittering career on stage and screen as she prepares to graduate from one of the world’s most famous drama schools in July this year.

The 20-year-old was one of just 14 girls to secure a place at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), from a total of 5,000 applicants, in 2012.

At the time, Sally was also one of five girls to be offered a place at the Drama Centre, out of 3,000 applicants, but chose RADA.

RADA is known across the world as one of the top performing arts training centres, with previous students including Anthony Hopkins, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman and Kenneth Brannagh.

And now, as she heads toward graduation, Sally has landed her first TV role in three-part ITV crime drama “with a supernatural twist” Midwinter of the Spirit, written by author Phil Rickman.

Filming was due to start in Manchester, and on location in Hereford, this week and is expected to take six weeks.

Sally, whose parents Paul and Kay and sister Lucy, 18, still live in Norton, will play the part of Jane Watkins, daughter of the central character, played by The Bletchley Circle actress Anna Maxwell Martin.

Sally’s mum Kay, 47, said: “She’s done three years at RADA and graduates at the beginning of July. She’s managed to land one of the top agents in London and now to get this part is fantastic. She had to have special permission from RADA to go ahead with it. We’re very proud of her. She works very hard.”

Also appearing in the series will be a number of well-known faces including Benidorm and Downton Abbey’s Siobhan Finneran and Shameless star David Threlfall.

Sally is a former student of the Stagecoach Theatre School in Yarm, and attended the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington.

Warning after 'extremely dangerous' painkillers are reportedly stolen in Billingham

Police are warning members of the public after strong painkillers were reportedly stolen from an address in Chatsworth Gardens, Billingham.

The prescribed drugs, which were reported to have been taken yesterday, are believed to be 100mg of slow release morphine which are little grey tablets with “MST” on the packet.

Police say the medication could be extremely dangerous if taken by anyone other than the person they were prescribed for and anyone who finds the drugs is asked to hand them into any pharmacy or a police officer.

Almost 3,000 people caught by speed cameras on Teesside's roads

Nearly 3,000 people were caught by speed cameras on Teesside in 2013 - a third fewer than the year before.

Figures released by Cleveland Police show that 2,965 people were issued with a fixed penalty notice for breaking the speed limit after being caught on camera in 2013, the latest year for which data is available.

Although this may seem like a large number it is actually a decrease of 33% compared with the 4,442 people caught breaking the speed limit in 2012.

Only three other forces of the other 43 in England and Wales saw a larger decrease in the number of people issued with fines after being caught by speed cameras during this period.

In addition, Cleveland Police also issued 751 fixed penalty notices for people neglecting to follow traffic directions, including, for example, driving through red lights.

This figure represents a 12% increase compared to the 670 penalty notices issued for these offences in 2012.

Throughout the whole of England and Wales 611,849 people were caught speeding by cameras in 2013 - a slight increase on the 609,216 caught in 2012 and the 599,931 caught in 2011.

In addition to this 75,268 people were issued with penalty notices in 2013 for ignoring traffic signals.

The minimum penalty for speeding in the UK is a fine of £100 and three penalty points added to your driving licence.

However, your licence could be revoked if you rack up more than 12 penalty points within a three-year period.

Market Cross jewellers raids: Sixth arrest in connection with robberies

A sixth person has been arrested in connection with two robberies at Market Cross Jewellers.

Cleveland Police executed a warrant today at a property in Manchester and arrested a 24-year-old Manchester man in connection with the robberies in Yarm and Middlesbrough.

The man is currently in police custody.

The Yarm High Street shop was raided on November 10, and the Linthorpe Road store on January 13.

In both robberies weapons, believed to be axes, were used and the thieves fled with hundreds of thousands of pounds of jewellery.

In the Yarm robbery, the suspects smashed display cases and ransacked parts of the shop before making their getaway.

VIEW GALLERY

They stole a large number of high value watches, jewellery and cash.

Shortly after the Middlesbrough robbery, armed police cordoned off Fleetham Street, in nearby Cannon Park, where a car – believed to have been used by the robbers – was found abandoned.

Speaking after the Middlesbrough robbery Dawn Welsh, company manager at Market Cross Jewellers, praised staff for their quick thinking after they activated security smoke during the attack.

Three other people from the Manchester area and two from the Cleveland area remain on police bail pending further inquiries.

Six British servicemen reburied in Flanders Fields

The bodies of six British servicemen have been reburied in Flanders Fields over a century after they died in the chaotic first months of the First World War.

The six unknown soldiers received a service with full military honours.

Soldiers stand at the casket of a British World War I soldier during a reburial ceremony at Prowse Point cemetery in Ploegsteert, Belgium on Thursday, April 16, 2015. Six British unknown soldiers were buried Thursday more than 100 years after they fell in 1914. Two were identified as from the Lancashire Fusiliers and two from the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Their bodies were found half a dozen years ago in farmland in the surroundings of Ypres where several of the war's biggest battles were fought.

Soldiers prepare to kneel down and fold the flags on the caskets of two British World War I soldiers during a reburial ceremony at Prowse Point cemetery in Ploegsteert, Belgium on Thursday, April 16, 2015. Six British unknown soldiers were buried Thursday more than 100 years after they fell in 1914. Two were identified as from the Lancashire Fusiliers and two from the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Two were identified as coming from Lancashire Fusiliers and two from the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.

Soldiers fold the flag on the casket of a British World War I soldier during a reburial ceremony at Prowse Point cemetery in Ploegsteert, Belgium on Thursday, April 16, 2015. Six British unknown soldiers were buried Thursday more than 100 years after they fell in 1914. Two were identified as from the Lancashire Fusiliers and two from the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

They are believed to have died on the battlefield in October 1914 at a time when German and British forces faced off in ferocious battles as the frontline of the 1914-1918 war was formed.

York Potash project: Redcar and Cleveland Council say underground transport system should go ahead

Plans for a potash mine and Teesside processing plant with the potential to create thousands of jobs could take a major step forward next week.

Redcar and Cleveland Council officers say the mine and mineral transport system (MTS) for the York Potash project, which includes a large mine south of Whitby and a 45km underground pipeline leading to Wilton, should get the go-ahead.

The project, which could create more than 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, also needs approval from North York Moors National Park Authority (NYMNPA).

An initial decision on the application will be made by Redcar and Cleveland Council’s councillors next week.

The report by council officials said that while “some limited policy conflict does arise”, they concluded the adverse impacts did not outweigh the benefits.

It said: “A balance needs to be struck between benefits of a project and the environmental effects of the proposal, but it is evident that the economic benefits contribute significantly.

“The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to the positive advises that great weight should be given to these benefits.

“The project represents a major investment that will significantly positively contribute towards the challenge of global food security and create over 1,000 direct jobs, with many more generated in the wider economy.

“The proposals would make a significant annual contribution to the UK’s Gross Domestic Product of over £1bn.”

The report said more than 419 responses have been received, but just eight raised objections.

Among those opposing the plan is rival Cleveland Potash, which operates a mine in nearby Boulby.

The firm raises fears that the new project could lead to its staff moving to York Potash, which could leave it “seriously under-staffed” and create a “genuine risk and threat to the business.”

It also has concerns that the project would limit its own expansion plans.

York Potash, owned by Sirius Minerals, announced plans for the scheme in January 2011, after discovering what is thought to be the world’s largest polyhalite seam below the North York Moors National Park.

Polyhalite is a natural mineral which is added to fertilizer.

The company withdrew its original 2013 planning application to the NYMNPA, before changing its plan from a slurry pipeline to an underground conveyor system as the method for transporting the mineral to Teesside.

It resubmitted its planning application last autumn.

In January, York Potash insisted plans were still on track after withdrawing its application for a critical part of the scheme - the Bran Sands-based “harbour” facilities that would fast-track the transportation of polyhalite to UK destinations and overseas. The application was resubmitted on March 27.

Redcar and Cleveland Council’s regulatory committee will consider the application next Thursday..

Stockton former X Factor hopeful signs international management deal along with fellow Tees singer

An X Factor hopeful, who said he was certain there were “better things to come” after failing to make it through, has signed an international management deal.

Bre Musiq, 25, has signed a deal with Dubai-based RU Listening Ltd, which also has an office in Stockton, where he joins fellow Teessider and former X Factor hopeful Kerrianne Covell and Ingleby Barwick musician Samantha Durnan.

Also announcing she has signed up with the same management company this week is a fourth Stockton signer, Kim Blair.

Nando’s worker Bre, who lives with his mum Barbara McCarthy, a nurse at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital, and his twin brother and sister Ashley and Ashlyn, 10, near Portrack Lane, Stockton, was on the ITV show along with Kerrianne last year when the two both got through to the arena shows.

Bre, who describes his style as R ‘n’ B and soul, said: “Since then, I’ve been doing a lot of gigging and studio time. I’ve been working on my EP, which I hope to release soon.

“I had nothing to lose signing with RU Listening. They know what they’re doing. They’ve got everything I need to take my career to the next level.

“We haven’t got as far as planning the exact next steps for me, but I’m looking forward to finding out.

“I started off singing in the church choir actually, so there’s a gospel influence there as well,” he added.

As part of her new management deal, Kim, 27, of Ingleby Barwick, is heading to Houston in Texas next month to perform a number of gigs, something she’s “incredibly excited” about.

Chris Slasor

Kim Blair

She said: “Funnily enough, I haven’t really performed in the UK yet! I’m going to Houston next month, and I recently performed in Dubai when I went out there to visit my brother, but I’m yet to perform on home ground!”

Kim, who is married with a young daughter, three-year-old Ella, was with her most recent band for around four years, during which time they secured a record deal, played to audiences of 10,000 people and alongside some of well-known bands including Paramore, You Me At Six and Feeder. Kim then took a break from music, but said she quickly missed it. Kim said: “I realised music IS me. It’s not a hobby. I can’t not do music.

“It’s great to be joining at the same time as Bre - we know each other. We’d come across each other on the music scene previously, but he’s also served me in Nando’s a few times!”

Kim spent most of her childhood in Yarm, attending Conyers School and then Middlesbrough College, where she studied film and video, before going on to the University of Glamorgan. Kim also trained and works as a freelance make-up artist and for Middlesbrough’s Mink bar.

“I’ve been writing my own music since I was young,” she added.

“It all really started when I went to Middlesbrough College. I started a band, and back then it wasn’t really the thing to have a female fronting a band. For our first show we played with Kasabian at the Empire – that was when they weren’t well known, and they later became massive.

“My style now has become ‘pop with country vibes’. I don’t mean to have country vibes, it just is that way!”

Kim has already released one single, Too Into You, the video for which showed people across Teesside and beyond holding up messages to loved ones.

“I’ve really missed that feeling of being on stage. I’m really, really excited and I can’t wait to get back out there as a solo artist.”

Thousands of youngsters set to miss out on their top choice school

Tens of thousands of youngsters are set to miss out on their top choice of school as Infants across England are today learning what school they will be attending this autumn

Early indications suggest wide differences around the country, with up to one in six missing out on their first preference in some areas, compared with almost all getting their number one pick in others.

A continuing squeeze on places, particularly at primary level - fuelled in part by a rising birth rate in recent years, combined with the effect of immigration in some areas - means that some parts of England are struggling to accommodate every child.

Ahead of what is known as National Offer Day, Labour released new figures which it claimed showed that a growing crisis in school places means that more than 100,000 five to seven-year-olds are being taught in "supersize" classes".

The party said its analysis of data obtained from freedom of information requests to local councils reveals that the numbers of young children being taught in classes of more than 30 pupils has reached its highest level for 15 years.

It blamed the rise on the Conservative Party, which it said had spent millions on setting up free schools rather than focusing funding on areas in need of more places.

Initial results from a survey of town halls shows that families in some areas are more likely to gain a place at their top choice than in others.

Children raise their hands in class

In Kirklees, 90.4% of youngsters have got their first place, along with 90% in Oldham.

Results from Birmingham show that 84.7% of children starting reception have got their first preference, while 94.8% got one of their listed choices. Around 5.2% - 826 children -- were given a school that was not one of their preferred options, while a further 3.3% - 532 youngsters - have been offered a school outside the city.

Figures from East Sussex show that 84.68% got their first choice, while in Southampton the percentage was 85.4%.

Other early results include Derbyshire, where 93.4% of youngsters have their first pick, Torbay was 86.2%, Bristol was 84%, up from 82% last year, and Cornwall was 90.7%.

In Kent the figure was was 85.81%, up from 84.9% last year.

Patrick Leeson of Kent County Council said: "Our schools admissions team has been working hard, as usual, to ensure that as many pupils as possible get a school from among their preferred choices and we are pleased to see that the number of both first and second choices has increased.

"However, we will not lose sight of the fact that 4% of pupils have not been given a school from their preferences. While many will secure places through waiting lists and reallocation, I am aware that this will be a difficult time and we will do what we can to offer a good outcome.

"Local authorities across England face significant challenges because of a lack of primary school places. In Kent, however, the combination of good forecasting, careful planning, and close working with schools means we are able to sustain a high proportion of children starting at a school of their preference.

"We are also creating hundreds of additional places - both for the start of the academic year 2015/16 and from September 2016."

Labour's figures indicate that around 102,615 pupils aged between five and seven are being taught in classes with at least 31 children.

This is up from 93,345 last year, and 31,265 in 2010. In 2000, there were 176,962 pupils in classes of over 30.

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said: "The crisis in school places is yet more evidence that the Tory plan is failing working families. It is thanks to David Cameron and his decision to spend hundreds of millions of taxpayers' money on a few free schools in areas where there are no shortages of places that the number of young children in supersize classes has more than tripled since 2010 and parents are finding it harder to get a place for their child at a local school."

Labour plans to bring back a strict cap on infant class sizes and prioritise spending on areas that need new school places, he added.

Children at school raising their hands to answer a question as more than 100,000 infants are now being taught in "supersize" classes, amid a growing crisis in school places, it has been claimed

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "Labour cut over 200,000 primary school places - and even ignored official warnings to provide extra school places after a baby boom.

"The Conservatives have created over 400,000 school places. There are fewer children in overcrowded primary schools and, most importantly, one million more children in good or outstanding schools since 2010."

The survey results show a mixed picture, while some areas have seen a rise in youngsters gaining their top choice, others have seen a drop.

Southend has seen a 3% rise, with 87% of infants offered their first preference, up from 84% last year, while Hull has seen a rise from 89.34% in 2014 to 92.04% this year.

But Stoke has seen a fall, with 89% of youngsters getting their first choice for this September, compared to 92.2% last year, and in Wokingham first choice offers have dropped one percentage point to 85%.

Education law firm Match Solicitors said it has seen an unprecedented level of inquiries this week from parents around the country seeking advice and representation for appeals against school places.

Director Anita Chopra, said: "It's clear that local authority cuts have put extra pressure on school places, many councils have told us that they are already under capacity across all their schools, so pressure on the best rated schools will be even fiercer this year."

Teesside multimodal specialist AV Dawson in strategic deal with Network Rail

Teesside multimodal specialist, AV Dawson, has signed a strategic deal with Network Rail to give the firm control of the full rail sidings which link its entire 80-acre site to the East Coast Mainline.

The deal means AV Dawson’s customers can use the firm as a single supplier - from mainline rail through to road, sea terminal or warehouse - improving efficiency and cutting costs.

The agreement, to manage the neighbouring seven-acre Middlesbrough Goods Yard, comes as the family-run Teesside firm has completed work on its £12.5m expansion plans. The work has included a new deepwater river Tees quay, the TRIP (rail freight terminal the Tees Riverside Intermodal Park) and a huge, state-of-the-art automotive steel store.

The 99-year lease to manage the goods yard site includes all the operational rail sidings and will form an integral part of the overall intermodal logistics operation at Dawson’s Riverside Park HQ. The firm plans to spend £500,000 on renewals and improvements over the next five years.

AV Dawson M.D Gary Dawson

Gary Dawson, AV Dawson’s managing director, said: “Taking ownership of the Middlesbrough Goods Yard strategically underpins the investments we have made over recent years in building three additional rail served facilities, all of which rely on the goods yard for main line connection.

“It gives our investors and customers increased confidence in our business model and in their rail served supply chains. “Having such a vested interest means that we are committed to improving the integrity of the yard, and plan to expand its capacity.

“Work on these improvements will begin over the next few weeks.”

As a spin-off, AV Dawson has also taken over responsibility for maintaining the point of connection and the private infrastructure of Cobra Middlesbrough Ltd, which operates a dry bulk handling terminal offering processing and packing services.

Gary added: “I’m sure that working closer with Cobra Middlesbrough Ltd will only serve to strengthen the position of both companies within the Teesside rail freight industry and we hope to identify further synergies and business opportunities together in the future.”

Andrew Padley, managing director of Cobra Middlesbrough Ltd, said: “We’ve good relations between our two companies and look forward to cooperating together for many years to come. This is a wonderful opportunity to maximise the utilisation of this Middlesbrough facility.”

The Network Rail deal marks a new model of freight infrastructure ownership, where rail freight end users take direct control of the management and investment in the siding infrastructure which supports their rail business.

Guy Bates, head of freight development, for Network Rail said: “These sidings are a critical holding and marshalling point for traffic originating from and destined to Cobra and Dawson’s railheads.

“The long term programme of revitalisation and enhancement will see this legacy yard’s layout progressively transformed to be capable of handling the growing traffic base of modern length freight trains.”

AV Dawson opened its new £6.5m steel store in February this year.

“This infrastructure will secure the future for AV Dawson and enable us to build greater relationships with the freight operators and grow our support to the rail industry as a whole,” Gary added.

Dawson is a key player in the automotive steel logistics industry across the North-east. More than 270,000 tonnes of steel a year will arrive by rail from Tata Steel in Port Talbot, South Wales before eventually heading by road to Sunderland-based car giant Nissan on the back of Dawson’s specialist steel coil carrying trailers.

General Election: Who's standing where I live? What the stats say about your area

As part of our General Election coverage we've created an online tool which helps you to find out more about the constituency you will be voting in.

Simply enter your postcode below and you will find a unique analysis of a selection of official statistics for your constituency to highlight the big election issues where you live - as well as who is standing.

Enter your postcode below

GENERAL ELECTION 2015

Please enter your postcode above for details on your constituency

The statistics have been divided into four main groups - economy, cost of living, immigration and pensions - each containing a selection of various relevant measures.

Each constituency is ranked against all the others based on how pressing each of these four issues are in that constituency, with the rankings derived from an average ranking of each individual measure.

The figures have all been taken from a range of official sources including the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Land Registry.

Dream Home: Imposing £420,000 Marton home treasured and transformed by owners

This imposing family home has been treasured and transformed by its current owners.

The detached property in the quiet suburb of Marton in Middlesbrough now makes the perfect home for those who love entertaining, says current owner Pamela Fitzpatrick, 53.

The house wife, who is mum to Katie, 23, and grandmother to eight-month-old Callie Irish, said she and husband Malcolm, 51, a commissioning manager, fell in love with all the five bedroom property had to offer when they bought it in 2006.

VIEW GALLERY

The property in Rosemoor Close, Marton, Middlesbrough, is on the market for £420,000 through Michael Poole.

For more information contact 01642 288299.

Location: Rosemoor Close, Marton, Middlesbrough.Pamela said: “Everything is within walking distance, from good schools to good pubs such as The Rudds and The Southern Cross.“But it’s also very quiet and private.”

Bedrooms: Five.

Reception rooms: Four reception areas.

Bathrooms - including en suites: Cloakroom, en suite and family bathroom.

Gardens and outside space: Pamela said: “There is a wraparound garden and you get the sun all afternoon.As we entertain quite a lot there is also a patio area and a hot tub. There is also a greenhouse and fruit trees. We spend quite a lot of time out there.”

Which room in the house has the biggest wow factor?

“I would say it’s the kitchen and diner,” says Pamela. “There is a built in coffee machine and everything is integrated.The open plan area has really worked for us. It has all been knocked through as it was once a utility and a study. It’s definitely been worth it. Another stand out feature is the entrance hallway with Travertine flooring.”

What’s the best thing about the home’s location?

“Everything really,” says Pamela. “From being close to good schools to being close to good pubs and shops.”

Driveway/garage?:  “It has a double driveway and a double garage,” says Pamela.

Closest schools: Lingfield Primary School and Captain Cook Primary School - both in Marton - and Nunthorpe Academy.

Changes/renovations/extensions?: The couple have extensively renovated the property since purchasing it in 2006 - including making the kitchen and dining area open plan, adding Travertine flooring to the entrance hallway and decorating throughout.

Plans for Acklam Hall wedding venue, restaurant and business centre approved

Plans have been given the go-ahead to transform Middlesbrough’s only Grade I listed building into a business and conference hub, restaurant and wedding venue.

The refurbishment of Acklam Hall and a housing development on the grounds of the 17th century building have proved controversial - with several objections being made.

But Middlesbrough Council’s planning committee has now approved plans for a mixed use development including a business and conference venue, a restaurant, offices, a function space for weddings as well as a deli and flower shop.

The former nursery and bedrooms of the hall, which feature original fireplaces and light decorations, will become a business centre with office facilities.

The front room in the second storey spans the width of the house and is expected to become one of the town’s most sought-after venues and could be used for weddings and executive functions.

The hall, built in 1680, boasts original intricate clay features of rosebuds, birds and dragons along the ceilings which have been carefully patched up and replicated.

The last part of the hall to be built, in 1912, is ready to be fitted and will be the main formal dining area.

VIEW GALLERY

Workers have been replacing parts of the roof, restoring ceilings and the old windows.

The wider site will include a medical village and 56 new houses.

Neil Whittingham, of developers Acklam Hall Ltd, has previously insisted the housing development will reflect the historical context of Acklam Hall saying his team was taking a “cotton wool” approach to the refurbishment.

He said: “The function of this hall is to ensure that what we put in, such as the restaurant and business centre, complements the rest of the ground surroundings so that visitors aren’t faced with a new dark, modern place.”

The committee approved the plans subject to conditions including the retails units only operating as a deli and flower shop.

And due to concerns about light pollution and glare from the floodlights affecting nearby residents, details of any floodlights need to be submitted and approved by the local planning authority.

The application was seen by the committee to be an “acceptable form of development” and that the changes of use would not prejudice the character of Acklam Hall.

DJ Neil Fox denies sex offence charges

Disc Jockey Neil Fox has denied sex offences over a period spanning more than two decades and involving six woman.

The 53-year-old Magic presenter, known as Dr Fox, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London and spoke only to confirm his name and address, and indicate his pleas.

Three of the nine offences he is charged with relate to three juveniles, and are alleged to have taken place between 1991 and 1996, one at Chessington World Of Adventures theme park.

The other three complainants were allegedly attacked by the DJ between 2003 and 2014.

One woman claims that she was repeatedly assaulted at the Capital Radio studios in London's Leicester Square.

Fox is charged with seven counts of indecent assault and two charges of sexual touching, against the six woman who were aged between 14 years old and 36 years old at the time.

Fox, from Fulham, southwest London, was first arrested in September last year, then again in December and last month.

Dressed in a dark pinstripe suit, white shirt and blue tie, he listened intently during the hearing as his wife Vicky sat in the public gallery.

ITV, Thames

Pop Idol judges Pete Waterman, Neil Fox, Nicki Chapman and Simon Cowell

Fox, who rose to fame presenting the charts show on Capital Radio, was a judge on Pop Idol between 2001 and 2003 alongside Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman, and Nicki Chapman.

He also appeared as himself judging a superhero talent show in BBC Three sketch show The Wrong Door.