A TODDLER is in a critical condition after a motorbike collided with a pushchair carrying a pair of twins.

The 18-month-old girl has been transferred to Newcastle’s RVI hospital after the incident this morning.

Her twin brother also sustained injured and is recovering in hospital.

The rider of the bike, a man aged 30, was also taken to hospital and received treatment for his injuries.

The woman who was pushing the pushchair was injured, but not seriously.

Police received reports at 9.52am that a motorbike had collided with a woman with a pushchair in the road on the B1286 City Way in Doxford Park, Sunderland.

Police and the ambulance service attended and two children were taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital for treatment.

Officers say they are continuing to carry out enquiries to establish exactly what happened.

The road was closed for three and a half hours to allow for investigation.

Police say they have informed next of kin and are providing support to family members.

•Any witnesses are asked to contact police on 101 ext 69191.

BOUNCERS have hit back after criticisms over heavy-handed action at a trouble-hit city centre club.

Door staff have defended their professionalism after the Glass Spider had a catalogue of restrictions imposed by licensing bosses.

Security men and women at the Green Terrace club say they are being unfairly portrayed and tarnished with an outdated image of their role.

While the licensing committee which imposed the restrictions made reference to a number of clashes between door staff and drinkers, the bouncers say little is ever mentioned of the good they do in the city centre.

Between them, Les Ojugbana and Gary Pearn have 40 years’ experience of working the doors and have resuscitated people, rushed pub-goers to hospital and tackled machete-wielding clubbers.

Les, who is head of security for Wylam Leisure, the firm which owns Glass Spider, said: “I’ve personally driven people to A&E and have chased someone from Green Terrace to Chester Road because police weren’t able to apprehend him.

“It’s been made out that there’s no control over the premises which isn’t the case. Encountering trouble is part and parcel of the job. Without us that city centre couldn’t operate. The police couldn’t handle it on their own.

“We have a good relationship with the beat police because they see how we operate, but a lot of people who make decisions about licensing don’t understand what we do.”

Les, who also works the doors at Ttonic and Paddywhacks, added: “We’re in a position similar to police but we don’t have weapons. All we have is our arms. If somebody comes at you, if someone is clawing your face, you have to try and restrain them with reasonable force.

“There is also a grey area around coming off your step to intervene in a fight. In training you are told not to do this, but this is one of the things we have been criticised for.

“We have come off our step to intervene in the past and been told off by police for it.”

He added: “In two years of being open the Glass Spider has had one million visitors and 61 incidents. We can’t pre-empt what happens when people have a drink. All we can do is try and stop trouble from happening and, if it does, to intervene.”

In order to obtain a door supervision licence, staff must undergo a five work SIA course which includes a section on conflict management and reasonable force.

Though doormen have been disciplined for using excessive force in the past, Gary is keen to point out that the vast majority of the city centre’s doormen are trying to keep clubbers safe and out of harm’s way.

“I’ve been a doorman for 30 years and the profession is a lot different from what it once was,” he said. “We dress smartly, we open doors for people, we meet and greet them. We do things right.”

After Sunderland City Council imposed restrictions on the club, leisure boss Tony Griffiths announced plans to sell his prized venue, a move which Les says will have repercussions for the the city centre.

Les said: “If people think that doormen are going around bashing people, which isn’t true, then they won’t come into the town which is bad for the city centre.”

Twitter: @sunechokaty

SCRAPPING plans to impose penalties for early student loan repayment has had a mixed reaction on Wearside.

The Government is expected to announce it will be abandoning proposals to impose penalties on students in England who pay off university loans early.

Coun Robert Oliver, Tory spokesman for education in Sunderland, said he welcomed the move to scrap the idea of penalties.

He said: “I think it is a good idea because student loans need to be flexible and take into account students’ changing circumstances.

“Student loans do offer a lot of protection for those on low incomes. I do think it is right that if people want to pay it off then really they should be able to do so without being penalised.”

However, Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West, who is also the Shadow Education Minister, said: “When the Government were trying to sell us their plans to land those who wanted to go to university in up to £40,000 worth of debt, we were told that this early repayment penalty was there to ensure the system was ‘progressive’ and didn’t favour the rich.

“Removing this penalty just means that those from wealthy backgrounds, who can afford to pay off such a large sum, can avoid paying the 30 years’ worth of interest and repayments that those who go into professions like teaching and nursing will never be able to get out of.

“Prioritising this just shows how out of touch ministers are with the concerns of ordinary young people who want to go to university, but are thinking twice because of the huge new fees. It’s another Lib Dem capitulation to the Tories, and yet again it’s the wealthy who will benefit most.”

Business Secretary Vince Cable had intended to introduce an early repayment penalty of about five per cent above a certain limit to prevent wealthier students avoiding interest charges on the new standard 30-year repayment plans.

However is is understood the Prime Minister, David Cameron, has decided to drop the scheme amid warnings it would be unfair on those wanting to repay their loans early.

From this September, loans of more than £16,000 a year will be offered to students to cover tuition fees and living expenses and graduates will pay back around nine per cent of anything they earn above the £21,000 a year threshold.

Twitter: @SunEchoSchools

]]> 1.4274047 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:40:39 +0000 http://www.sunderlandecho.com/friend_s_tribute_to_famous_sunderland_pigeon_man_1_4274037

“I AM going to be lost without him - we were always together.”

Pigeon fancier Maurice Surtees today paid tribute to his best pal and fellow cree campaigner Jacky Surtees, who has lost his battle with lung cancer.

Dad-of-seven Jacky, 84, was known to everyone in the community of Ryhope and hundreds turned out to pay their respects at his funeral service in St Paul’s Church.

A life-long pigeon racer, Jacky was one of a small group of people who fought to save their crees, including the one belonging to his best pal, Maurice, which gained fame as the world’s only pigeon allotment with listed status.

Jacky’s life with pigeons also saw him starring in two films produced around the working class sport, Like Father, a drama, and Homing Instinct, a documentary with pal Maurice.

Maurice, who was also distantly related to retired miner Jacky, said: “I knew Jacky for over 60 years and I am absolutely devastated.

“We used to be with each other down the allotments every day. I am going to be lost without him.

“Everyone thought we were brothers because we were always together.

“Jacky was a lovely lad and everybody thought the world of him.

“He was a true gent, he never swore and he didn’t drink either.”

Jacky’s eldest son, Robert, said his dad became ill with lung cancer about 20 years ago and doctors only gave him six months to live.

The 58-year-old said: “It was a bit of a miracle really, because the lung started to mend itself and dad got better.”

However, about 18 months ago the cancer returned and sadly this time Jacky lost his fight against the disease.

Robert said: “Dad absolutely loved Ryhope and the people. Every time he came home out of hospital he would say he was back in God’s own land.”

After a stint in St Benedict’s Hospice, Jacky was allowed home and died within three hours surrounded by his family in the place he loved.

Robert said: “My dad was a gentleman. I have not only lost my dad, but also a good friend, he will be sadly missed.”

But he said the family, which include’s Jacky’s widow, Marge, 73, their seven children, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, are taking great comfort in the hundreds of messages of sympathy they have had.

Twitter: @SunEchoSchools

A COUNSELLOR employed to help vulnerable women in their homes sexually assaulted one of them.

Ronald Crangle encouraged the woman to drink, despite knowing she had a drink problem, and then groped and kissed her.

Durham Crown Court heard Crangle left the house without saying a word, then telephoned his employers Stonham Housing to say he was sick and would not be returning.

He no longer works for Stonham, which specialises in providing housing and support services to vulnerable people.

Prosecutor Richard Bennett told the jury: “You may feel Mr Crangle groomed his victim in that he first encouraged her partner to go out, leaving him alone with her.

“He encouraged her to drink and engage in sexualised talk.”

The jury heard four days of evidence from two alleged victims.

Proceedings were interrupted when the partner of one of the victims shouted “nonce” at Crangle, before leaving the witness box and refusing to give any more evidence.

Crangle, 64, of Kielder, Oxclose, Washington, denied four charges of sexual assault between October, 2008 and December, 2010.

The jury convicted him of one charge and found him not guilty of the other three charges.

The Recorder, Mr Adrian Waterman QC, adjourned passing sentence for the preparation of a probation report.

]]> 1.4271875 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:06:05 +0000 http://www.sunderlandecho.com/community_centres_fear_axe_in_durham_county_council_cuts_1_4271683

THE long-term future of some community centres across County Durham today hangs in the balance.

A funding pot of £2.15million has been put aside to invest in several centres as part of a two-year programme, which could also signal the end for some venues.

As part of the Durham County Council’s plan, a further £600,000 is to go into a support package to allow community groups to take control of facilities, with £280,000 ring-fenced for the next financial year to hand out in grants.

The proposals, which go before the authority’s cabinet next Wednesday, have been drafted following consultation on the 54 community rooms it manages and 66 centres already run by their communities, with more than 3,600 people having their say.

Further consideration will be given to the plans, with some centres getting cash, some transferred to a community group and others to remain open but go without investment.

Others could also be passed on to the community without investment or face closure and a number could be repaired and leased.

A list of 14 communal rooms, most linked to nearby housing, have been highlighted for closure.

Social landlords are being approached to discuss the possibility of taking on ownership of the spaces, which could free up £900,000 of the £2.15million destined to be reinvested in other community-managed buildings.

The council has said 40 different groups have voiced interest in taking on the responsibility for the venues, with more offers being welcome.

Assistant chief executive Lorraine O’Donnell said the council was taking a different approach to many authorities facing making savings by empowering communities to have their say.

She said: “The hard work starts here. If anyone is interested in supporting their local building, maybe volunteers at the moment, maybe they have some ideas on how it can keep going, there will be help to bring them into reality in the future.”

Parkside Community Centre, in Heathway, Seaham, is ranked first in the list for investment – Parkside People’s Centre, which is a short distance away, is among those to be transferred or closed.

Chairman of the community centre George Jane, said funds would be used to employ a centre manager, rather than any refurbishment of the building.

It has been without a manager since a worker in the post was moved on to another community project by the council.

The money it has coming in now goes to pay bills and cleaners, with a team of six volunteers running the facility.

Mr Jane said: “We don’t know how much money we could get, but we hope it’s enough for a centre manager, which would help the volunteers who have been running it since September.”

A full list of the categories is available on www.sunderlandecho.com

l For the full list of threatened community centres, go to sunderlandecho.com

Twitter: @EchoEastDurham

SUPPORTERS of a councillor suspended after an IRA Facebook row have set up an online campaign group – on the same website that landed her in trouble.

As reported in the Echo, Hetton councillor Florence Anderson was suspended from the Labour Party and is facing calls to resign after she “liked” a Facebook page calling for the IRA to bomb a Tory Party conference.

It was the second time Coun Anderson ended up in hot water over a gaffe on the social networking site.

In 2010 she made national headlines after posting she hoped Margaret Thatcher “burns in hell” while the former PM was ill in hospital.

Now 200 people have set up a “Click like to support Florence Anderson” Facebook group in support of the councillor, a former deputy leader of Sunderland City Council, and hit out at the Labour Party.

Left-wing Labour MP and former party leader contender John McDonnell is among those to have joined the group.

The group’s founders posted a statement they said was from Coun Anderson thanking people for their support.

It reads: “I cannot believe that a casual ‘like’ on an anti-Tory post – I do many of them – made on July 25 2010 which, in all honesty, I could not even remember, can now be used with such vehemence against me.

“All my life and my 40 years in the Labour Party have been spent striving for socialism, peace, justice and equality. I have opposed war and violence of thought or deed – I have never advocated bombings or assassinations.

“My ‘crime’ has been to click a ‘Like’ button on something ‘tongue-n-cheek’ and this witch-hunt and harassment is the result.

“As ever, ‘self-confessed socialist’ and Newcastle United supporter is attached to me by certain newspapers – yes these ‘charges’ I admit but ‘terrorism’ no.”

The Echo has tried several times to contact Coun Anderson, but she has not been available for comment.

Sunderland City Council has not received any complaints about Coun Anderson.

Other members of the group include Sunderland Labour Party activist Bob Price, prominent Greens Shirley Ford and Jack McGlen, Sunderland Against the Cuts organiser Gary Duncan and Luna17 blogger Alex Snowdon.

Both Mr Snowdon and Mr Duncan were themselves expelled from their own party – the Socialist Worker Party (SWP) – over internal differences.

Mr Duncan said: “I think we should spare a thought for how Florence will be feeling towards her own party at the moment.

“I know what it’s like to feel the wrath of a party leadership that turns against you. I can honestly say that my expulsion from the SWP was one of the most devastating, demoralising and depressing events of my life and it took some time to get over.”

Coun Anderson, who led the Eppleton Area Miners’ Wives Support Group during the strikes of 1984, is also among members of the group.

On Sunderland City Council she has chaired a number of committees and is the only woman ever to have served as deputy leader of the authority.

Her Facebook page lists revolutionary Che Guevara, former Cuban president Fidel Castro and her father as inspirational people in her life.

Twitter: @Pressbench

IT’S the day Simone Clark has been praying for – her baby’s safe return home after a desperate battle with meningitis.

The 19-year-old and partner Josh Merrington, 18, were struck by near-tragedy when their newborn daughter Lillia nearly died when she stopped breathing.

The Southwick couple could only watch helplessly as their baby battled the killer bug, spending the first two weeks of her life in a high-dependency unit at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Now, more than 13 weeks after her birth, Lillia is finally back home after winning her fight for survival.

“We’re so happy she’s back,” said Simone. “It’s a day we feared we would never see.

“She was in such a terrible state when she stopped breathing at home and was rushed into hospital.

“She also developed an infection, which made it even worse.

“She has been through so much.”

However, Simone, who lost twins in a miscarriage at the beginning of last year, and Josh now face an agonising wait to discover the scale of Lillia’s disabilities.

She has already been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, diabetes, epilepsy and fluid on the brain.

“It will be quite a while before we know what problems she will have,” said Simone.

“There is no way to tell how severe the cerebral palsy will be, whether it will affect her walking or mobility. We still have to go to hospital for weekly appointments and we have a community nurse visit us twice a week.”

Following emergency treatment to bring her back to life, Lillia underwent a series of tests, which later revealed she had meningitis.

After being admitted to hospital, she was initially given a 50-50 chance of survival.

“We’ve been given so much support,” said Simone. “The hospital staff have been fantastic. Everybody has been amazing.”

It is understood Lillia, who was born weighing 6lbs 1/2oz on November 23, developed meningitis after unwittingly being passed Group B Streptococcus from her mum. About one third of adults carry the bacteria, although for most it doesn’t usually cause problems and most babies will remain unharmed if their mother is infected.

However, for some tots it can be deadly, causing early birth, stillbirth, late miscarriage and complications.

Up to a third of babies who survive meningitis are left with long-term mental and physical problems, which can include sight and hearing loss and lung damage.

“We are just hoping the disability won’t be severe,” added Simone. “She is now feeding from a bottle, which we’ve been told is a good sign.”

Twitter: @sunderlandecho

SUNDERLAND AFC star Nicklas Bendtner has been banned from driving for 56 days and fined £660 after admitting speeding at nearly 104mph in his Porsche.

The Danish striker was late for a flight from Newcastle Airport when he was caught by a Northumbria Police traffic officer on the A696 dual carriageway, which has a 70mph limit, last December.

Bendtner, on loan at Sunderland for a year from Arsenal, did not appear before Newcastle magistrates for yesterday’s hearing.

The court was told the 24-year-old was in Denmark for “contractual obligations”.

He was deemed not to be absent from court because he was legally represented at the hearing.

Sarah Robinson, prosecuting, said Bendtner was spotted driving his convertible Porsche 911 Turbo. He was measured to be driving at 103.6mph for 0.137miles at 10.53am on Saturday, December 10.

Turn to Page 3

Barry Warburton, defending, said: “I understand he was going to Newcastle Airport. He was slightly late for a flight and unfortunately he was speeding.

“It was a Saturday morning, there was very little traffic on the road and weather conditions were fine.”

Addressing the bench, he added: “Not withstanding the fact he is in Denmark, he has been absolutely no trouble to anybody. In my respectful submission, your public duty can be discharged by treating him with leniency.”

The solicitor said his client had “substantial” disposable income and could pay the fine immediately with a credit card.

Chairman of the bench Edward Wardrobe imposed a 56-day driving ban, and fined the footballer £660, plus £30 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

No penalty points were added to the three Bendtner has on his licence.

In 2009, his father Thomas said his son was “lucky” to escape with only cuts and bruises after crashing his Aston Martin on the way to training. A photograph of the written-off sports car showed it had been badly mangled.

Bendtner was engaged to Baroness Caroline Luel-Brockdorff, a wealthy member of the Danish royal family and the mother of his child. They split soon after the birth of their son in December 2010.

The striker is currently playing in a mask after suffering a broken nose. It has been customised to include his initials, the “52” shirt number and the Danish flag.

Bendtner was ineligible to play for Sunderland in the win against Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday and he was caught by TV cameras watching the game wearing a trilby.

]]> 1.4271428 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:46:13 +0000 http://www.sunderlandecho.com/wannabe_journalist_s_interview_with_a_star_1_4269711

AN aspiring young journalist who was once homeless landed an interview with a stage star.

Stephen Kimberley, who lives at the Salvation Army’s Swan Lodge in Sunderland, was given the chance to grill actor Sean Jones, who plays Mickey in Blood Brothers.

Sean, one of the show’s troubled twins, agreed to pay a visit to the centre in High Street East and spent time with staff and residents.

It was a dream come true for Stephen, 24, who is writing up the interview for the Salvation Army’s in-house magazine.

He said: “I asked about his life and a couple of questions about Blood Brothers and asked for his views on homelessness.

“Some of his friends had been homeless, so he had experienced it through them.

“He was very interesting and down-to-earth and friendly.

“I didn’t really know what to expect, so I just went with the flow.”

At 21, Stephen found himself without a roof over his head after his mum died.

The local authority where they had been living refused to let him take over the tenancy and he was forced to sleep on friends’ settees.

But after being found a place with the Salvation Army, he was able to start turning his life around.

Stephen, 24, now has a job at a city centre pub and goes to college in Shiney Row. He is hoping to land a place at university in York to study social sciences and journalism.

Managers at Swan Lodge contacted the production company for Blood Brothers, which visited the Sunderland Empire, who agreed to set up the meeting after discovering Stephen’s passion for journalism.

“They are very encouraging and keep pushing me to keep going with my course and encouraging me to do my degree,” he said.

“If I hadn’t come to Swan Lodge I’d probably be doing nothing, to be honest – just moving from house to house and having a fair bit to drink, going down the wrong path.”

Swan Lodge manager Christine Tait said: “We were absolutely bowled over by Sean visiting the centre, as he had such a busy schedule.

“It was a dream come true for Stephen who wanted to interview one of the stars from Blood Brothers.

“Sean expressed his interest in homelessness and said ‘it’s very humbling what people like you do for those in need, you should be proud’.”

Twitter: @janethejourno

“SCARY, bonkers, yet really quite fabulous”.

That was the feedback retail expert Mary Portas gave to a town’s bid to attract her expertise.

The journalist and high street guru has been called on to help Seaham become one of 12 Portas Pilot areas.

The scheme invites towns to bid for a share of £1million to improve its stores and experience it offers shoppers.

It is part of Government plans to try and pull shopping areas back from the brink.

Mary, who has featured in a host of prime-time television programmes, has been tasked to lend her experience to the project.

Seaham’s bid will be submitted at the end of March, with support being encouraged from shops and their customers as well as town leaders, schools, community groups and other commercial ventures across the area.

After spotting the Echo’s story about the project on Friday, Mary Portas wrote on social networking site Twitter: “Scary, bonkers yet really quite fabulous” which went on to spark replies from businessman Carl Hopkins, who has continued to support the area after spending time in Easington as he was filmed for Channel 4 programme Secret Millionaire.

He told her: “Please go to Seaham and Easington to help them. I was there undercover, lovely people.”

Fellow followers Isobel Bailey, tweeting under the name @izzybbb, added: “Seaham is a lovely little town shops are struggling to survive there.

“The local luxury hotel and spa is amazing. Come to Seaham!,” while Daniel Wilson, who writes under the name @Drwilcouk, said: “I second this. I did my dissertation on the regeneration of Seaham. We need help from you Mary!”

The launch of the effort, which is being masterminded by Seaham Business Forum, also attracted comments to our website, sunderlandecho.com, including calls for Mary to visit Sunderland too.

Seaham looks set to go up against places including Hull, Redditch, Lowestoft, Gainsborough, and Broadstairs.

Steph Guidi, of Crazy Clearance in Church Street, is rallying round the former colliery town and Seaham Business Forum is meeting at 6pm in the Duke of Wellington pub in South Railway Street tomorrow, to discuss the campaign, with everyone welcome.

On hearing of Mary’s tweet, she said: “It’s excellent.”

Twitter: @EchoEastDurham

A SINGLE mum who left another woman scarred after throwing a glass has escaped a jail sentence.

Stevie Smith threw the glass at Chelsea Mills’ face, slicing the skin on her nose, after an argument between two groups of girls in a bar, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Smith, 19, was out with friends at Arizona bar in Sunderland when a fight broke out between two girls from each party.

Bridie Smurthwaite, prosecuting, said: “An altercation started between two girls.

“Matters were triggered when one of the complainant’s friends ‘bumped into’ one of the defendant’s friends.

“After Miss Mills apologised, the defendant suggested that they go outside for a fight but Miss Mills declined.

“A drink was thrown over her, and thereafter the defendant threw a glass towards her.”

The victim, who was 18 at the time, turned her face and closed her eyes as the glass was thrown.

The court heard how the glass shattered when it was thrown.

She suffered a cut to the left side of the tip of her nose, which required six stitches,

Smith was identified to police outside the bar, and subsequently arrested and interviewed.

Ms Smurthwaite said: “In her own words, Smith had consumed ‘loads of alcohol’ on the night in question.

“On a scale of drunkenness, from one to 10, she gave herself a seven.”

In a victim personal statement, read out in court, Miss Mills said: “This incident has left me upset.

“I’m not a trouble maker and I do not go out looking for a fight. I feel scared and my self-confidence has been knocked because of the cut on my nose.”

Appearing in court, Smith, who is four months pregnant, pleaded guilty to one count of actual bodily harm.

Alec Burns, mitigating said: “She is not a young lady who goes out drinking often.

“She is a single mother and spends all of her time looking after her child. She is currently four months pregnant with another on the way.”

Smith, of Southwick Road, Sunderland, was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for the incident in January.

She was also given a 12-month supervision order and a five-month prohibition order preventing her from drinking in licensed premises.

Passing sentence, Judge Roger Thorn said: “The order I have given requires you to be adult and to grow up.

“You won’t get another chance like this.”

Twitter: @Sunderlandecho

]]> 1.4269369 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:14:28 +0000 http://www.sunderlandecho.com/benefits_expert_are_we_entitled_1_4268250

Q I UNDERSTAND that Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is changing. Will this mean a “witch hunt” on all receiving it or will everyone be given a medical examination?

Anon

A FROM April next year, DLA will be replaced by the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which has different entitlement criteria.

From autumn next year those on DLA and aged between 16 and 64, even those on lifetime awards, will be re-assessed for a PIP.

For most people this will mean a face-to-face consultation with an independent medical professional, but there will be exceptions decided on a case-by-case basis.

It is likely that many people who currently get DLA will not be eligible for PIP.

The Government wants a 20 per cent cut in DLA spending and under PIP there will be no equivalent of the low rate of DLA for care.

Q WE are both in our 70s with four-weekly State Pensions of £743.36 and £298.36 plus my private pension of £28.15 a month. Are we entitled to any benefits?

Mr and Mrs D. (Fulwell)

A YOU appear to be entitled to Pension Credit (Savings Credit) of about £4.21 a week and Council Tax Benefit that would reduce your Council Tax to about £356 a year. That makes about £16 a week, backdated for three months.

Q SINCE being made redundant in August I have been claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), but this has been stopped because the Jobcentre says I have refused to apply for three jobs.

I have appealed and claimed hardship payments while I wait for the hearing, but the Jobcentre says they need to see my dad’s payslips and bank statements.

I live with him and his wages are keeping me and my disabled brother. What has his income got to do with my claim?

Distressed Jobseeker

A HARDSHIP payments do not have entitlement rules like other benefits.

They are only payable if the decision-maker thinks the person will suffer hardship without them.

So any money that may be available to you is taken into account. This includes help from people you live with.

Unless there was reason for doubt, however, I do not see why they could not have taken your word about your dad’s income.

CHEAP and nasty. That’s the reality TV show a Sunderland couple allowed their family to be sucked into.

What is the matter with people that they so carelessly expose themselves to being part of such muck?

It’s positively pathetic that any parents would take part in what is all too predictably going to show them and their daughter up by agreeing to spy on her on her first summer holiday abroad without them.

Of course they knew she would make an exhibition of herself and 20-year-old Lyndsey Cooper did not disappoint the programme makers of Sun Sex and Suspicious Parents in Ayia Napa, that hotbed of hedonism.

As sick as it was saddening to see, party animal Lyndsey making a bid to be the slapper of Ayia Napa, getting a vajassle, balloons of laughing gas and so drunk to behave like an alley cat, it was pitiful and so wrong that her parents wanted to set her up and be involved in such a programme.

This BBC 3 show strikes at the very heart of family life – trust. Its cheap and nasty concept is that parents of youngsters follow them abroad and secretly watch their antics. Shock, horror for mothers and fathers.

Lyndsey’s mam Debs and her dad Graham must be regretting ever taking part and exposing themselves and their daughter. “Do you trust your kids?” is what this show trades on. “Do you think I trust you two after this? I don’t f...... think so,” was Lyndsey’s furious reaction when she discovered the deceit. And she stormed off with, “You have made a mug of me in the process.”

Anyone who gets involved in this programme is being made a mug of and a first-rate one at that.

Debs took her daughter’s tirade philosophically, saying “Not going to be trusted again. I can live with that. I’ll have to, until she comes round.” But Lyndsey at that moment was incensed, telling her pals, “Do they really expect me to trust them after this. They’ve got nae chance.”

It’s one thing wanting your children, as Debs does, to be able to stand on their own two feet and quite another following them and spying on them. Whether or not the Cooper’s have “come round” doesn’t change the fact one iota that what they held dear – a relationship of trust - was broken. And for what? Cheap telly.

Knowing her only child so well, Debs quipped as she helped Lyndsey pack her case for the off, “I might even go as far as putting a chastity belt in.” Along with the super noodles and Cup a Soup she wanted Lyndsey to take.

What she wanted most of all for her daughter was this: “I would like her to keep her respect and dignity.”

Sadly that’s what they didn’t put a high enough price on as parents.

They were prepared to risk that which is so precious – the regard your children hold you in. We all have to earn their respect and that comes in keeping our dignity.

What does Lyndsey think today? On Twitter she tweeted “alexstandfordx well hello there my fellow napa slappa!!!!Sun Sex and Suspicious Parents has officially ruined our lives. Laughing my a... off!”

Funny or what? How serious she is, is an open question. But one things for sure, this episode was no laughing matter.

A MAN has admitted killing a grandfather with a bat in a “moment of madness.”

Karl Donohoe was due to go on trail charged with the murder of Peterlee gas pipe worker Raymond Bates yesterday, when he entered a plea to a lesser charge of manslaughter.

The 30-year-old defendant’s counsel offered his apologies to Mr Bates’ family, who were at Dublin’s Central Criminal Court for the short hearing.

The senior counsel for the state said the plea was acceptable to the prosecution.

Mr Bates, dad to Paul, Mark and Karl, who was married to Brenda, was working in the city when he was beaten around the head with a hurley stick.

The 49-year-old died in hospital four days later.

The apparent road rage incident was sparked after the men had a row in the Sandymount suburb of the Dublin, on September 26, 2010.

Both men drove away from the scene before the confrontation was reported to the Garda.

Mr Bates, a grandfather-of-one, went to St Vincent’s Hospital the following day after becoming unwell.

He was later transferred to Beaumont Hospital, where he fell in to a coma and died on September 30.

Donohoe, a crane worker from the west of the city, was arrested and initially charged with assault causing serious harm.

A decision was then made to charge him with murder.

Brendan Grehan, senior counsel for Donohoe, said his client wanted to take the opportunity to pass on his regret over the incident to Mr Bates’ family.

Mr Grehan said: “He said it was a moment of madness on his part and he is sorry for his actions.”

Donohue was remanded in custody until April 16, when he will be sentenced.

A victim impact statement will be read to the court during that hearing.

Twitter: @EchoEastDurham

WEARSIDE is one of the worst places in the country to find a job, according to a new report.

Job search Website Adzuna has listed Sunderland as the third-worst city to find employment in the UK, with 53 Job Seekers Allowance claimants per job vacancy.

The report comes after think-tank Centre for Cities listed Wearside as one of the areas most vulnerable to employment, and the Local Data Company found Sunderland was in the top 10 for empty shops with one-in-four city centre units sitting empty.

Sunderland City Council leader Paul Watson questioned the methods used in the survey and highlighted the work being done to boost business and create jobs in the city.

He said: “Finding work is never easy when times are tough, but there is an on-going commitment across Sunderland to continue promoting and investing our city.

“We have had record levels of inward investment over the past 10 years. Thousands of jobs have been created and we’re confident that this can continue.

“The city council and its partners are continuing to help create new jobs, improve educational achievement, increase investment and work towards further improvements.”

Coun Watson said the council had just announced £60million-worth of major projects in the city in its budget for 2012/13. These include a new £11million leisure centre in Washington and millions of pounds to develop the city centre. He said these will lever-in more private sector development.

He added: “There are (also) further developments and investments in the automotive, software, manufacturing sectors, as well as with service sector posts, that are going to boost job creation.”

The council boss criticised Adzuna’s research in determining Sunderland’s jobs ranking, which has improved slightly from last year when the city ranked second worst.

Coun Watson said the survey judgements were based on the number of vacancies per classified advert, which was a flawed way of examining the situation.

He said: “Not all jobs are advertised in this way and in certain sectors, such as leisure and retail, and in certain parts of the country, there’s a very high turnover of posts and a single post could well be advertised up to three times a year.”

Coun Watson did, however, agree with Adzuna’s findings in terms of the huge variation in prospects for job seekers across the country and the need for policy-makers to ensure unemployed people were in the best possible position to gain jobs available.

He said: “The survey highlights regional imbalances in the UK economy so it shows how important it is that we in the North East fight for our corner when it comes to the very limited funds that Government is making available for regeneration and jobs.”

A poor level of basic literacy and numeracy skills is hampering many Wearsiders from gaining work, claims Sunderland Conservatives leader Robert Oliver.

He said: “The story here is that some cities are more resilient than others during a downturn with pockets of prosperity throughout the UK concentrated on knowledge-based jobs such as IT, finance and marketing.

“The root of the problem in Sunderland is the low level of basic skills which is due to academic under performance in schools and a lack of focus on the booming sectors of the economy when it comes to education.”

Twitter: @PressBench

A DAD who suffered the loss of his oldest son in Afghanistan today spoke of his pride as his youngest prepares to go to war.

It was an emotional day for parents Tom and Carla Cuthbertson as they watched son Connan officially became a soldier during his pass out parade – just days before his 18th birthday.

Connan’s military path in life has been inspired by the legacy of his brother Nathan, killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan in 2008. He was 19.

Connan initially signed up for the Army when he was just 16.

After securing a spot at Harrogate Foundation College in September 2010, Connan took the oath of allegiance to Queen and Country before starting his military career.

After months of rigorous training, he is now a member of 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment based in Colchester, Essex.

But the passing out is bittersweet for Connan’s parents after learning he could be sent to Afghanistan later this year.

Former-Para Tom, 42, of Tunstall, said: “We’re so proud of him passing out and he’s done really well at 17 to pass into B Company because that’s hard to do at any age let alone at such a young age.

“Our Nathan did the same and Connan’s followed exactly in his footsteps.

“He’s done the same training, he’s in the same regiment and company and he’s based in the same place Nathan was.

“We are obviously nervous because we believe he’s being sent to Afghanistan this year and that’s frightening, but that’s what he wants to do.”

When Connan originally decided he wanted to join up, his mum had refused to sign the parental consent form that allows under-18s into the Armed Forces.

But Tom, who was also in the Paras, relented when Connan insisted he would sign up himself when old enough.

“Connan wanted to join the Army as well as our Nathan and he wanted to get in the Paras like Nathan so he is really pleased,” Tom said.

“He’s over the moon.”

Nathan also fulfilled his childhood dream by following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a gunner for the Parachute Regiment.

But the 19-year-old private was killed, along with his colleagues Private Daniel Gamble and Private Charles David Murray, when a lone insurgent detonated an explosive device as they returned to base in Helmand Province in 2008.

The Parachute Regiment requires its soldiers to operate with minimal or no support behind enemy lines and against numerically superior forces.

Twitter: @sunechochief

CALLS for a permanent thank you to Niall Quinn have started to pour in after the Sunderland legend stepped down from SAFC.

Soon after the former striker and chairman announced his decision to leave the club, a petition was started to have one of the stands at the Stadium of Light renamed in his honour.

It has already been signed by more than 4,330 people.

Fans, ex-players and friends of the Mackem hero have praised the influence he has had, and applauded him for the work he has done for SAFC and Wearside as a whole.

“Quinny has been a great man for the club,” said Charlie Hurley, Sunderland fans’ player of the century. “And he has always been a real gentleman.

“I can understand his reasons for wanting to spend more time with his family in Ireland, as for a lot of people family is the most important thing.

“To replace Niall will be a tough task, and it will have to be someone special to do the job he has done.

“They will need to be someone who loves the club as much as he does.”

Ex-SAFC captain Gary Bennett said: “He has had a massive impact on the club and without him we would not be where we are now.

“The club was going nowhere when he took over and he’s made us back into a magnificent club.

“The club is now known across the world because of him and he has put us on the map.

“He was a great professional as a footballer and as a man he always had the time of day for you and would always say hello.

“Going forward the club will continue, but he has laid a fantastic foundation and now we have to build on his legacy.”

The petition to rename the South Stand, created by fan and Seventy3’ Magazine online editor Gavin Henderson, says Quinn is regarded as the saviour of Sunderland football club and he is not only a hero to the fans but also to the community.

He said: “We’re overjoyed that so many people have taken to the petition, and I sincerely hope that with enough of a push, the club will also take notice and consider our thoughts.

“It is clear that from the immense support the Sunderland fans have given the campaign on Facebook, Twitter and message boards that this is what we the fans want, and that it’s a great way to pay homage to a club legend.

“We’ve received fantastic feedback from other Sunderland fans – and players such as Titus Bramble, Fraizer Campbell and Jordan Cook have lent themselves too it as well by sharing the petition with their legions of Twitter followers.

“Please keep on helping with the cause as we will be forwarding the petition to Sunderland football club.

“We may be chasing a lost cause, but there is no harm in trying.”

One of the men who was part of the Drumaville Consortium that took over Sunderland in 2006, John Hays, founder of Hays Travel, said Quinn had done a fantastic job.

“If you look at where we were when he took over, we had just been relegated with a record low number of points and morale was very low.

“Even after he took over we lost the first few games, and there was a genuine worry that we could have carried on slipping down.

“But since then we have done amazing things and he has done a fantastic job over the last five years.”

•Click on the link to the top right to visit the petition

RUSH hour traffic has been brought to a standstill on the A19 after a four-vehicle collision.

Police were called to the incident at about 7.45am today after reports of the smash on the northbound carriageway, near the Chester-le-Street turn off.

Officers remain at the scene and it is not yet known if there were any injuries.