Archive
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Mother asks Blunkett to block attackers' release
The mother of a teenager, stabbed and left for dead in a remote beauty spot, claims hundreds of people have already signed a petition launched to block the release of her son's assailants. Joanne Murray only began distributing copies over the weekend,
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Japanese Attache impressed by town
EVENTS in Darlington as part of the Japan 2001 Festival have impressed an important visitor to the town. Tsuyoshi Enomoto, the cultural attache for the Japanese Embassy in London, came to Darlington to preview an art exhibition celebrating the links between
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Mayor race gains third candidate
BUSINESSMAN Leo Gillen has declared he is to stand for the Labour Party nomination to become the first directly-elected mayor of Hartlepool. Mr Gillen, whose family newsagency business employs 200 people, said he has been encouraged to stand for election
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Farmer's case to be reheard
A FARMER convicted in his absence of breaching pig movement regulations during the foot-and-mouth crisis has won his plea to have his case reheard. Alan Clement, 58, appeared at Sedgefield Magistrates' Court, County Durham, where his barrister, Donald
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Armed raider strikes at cleaning company
POLICE are hunting an armed raider who tried to steal cash from a cleaning company. The man, wearing a ski mask and carrying a firearm, entered Top C Cleaning, George Street, Thornaby, Teesside, just before noon on Friday, and demanded money from wages
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'Miracle' recovery of crash victim
FIREFIGHTER Walter Moore has spoken of the most traumatic moment of his life after saving a three-year-old car crash victim. The 45-year-old was off duty and driving to a meeting in Teesside when he came across a car crash near Newton Aycliffe, County
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Officers appeal for witnesses in hit and run
Police officers investigating a hit and run incident involving a blind man and a cerebral palsy sufferer have renewed their appeal for witnesses. Detectives working on the case have been disappointed by the public's response since the incident on November
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Christmas cheer in the High Street
SHOPPERS are being encouraged to get into the Christmas spirit with a festive parade in Stockton, on Sunday. Bands and dancers will launch the event in the High Street at 4pm. An hour later a parade of TV personalities will travel the length of the High
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Comment from The Northern Echo; Time to ditch the Formula
GORDON Brown will never be able to do enough to satisfy all of us. With health and education still in desperate need of investment, a transport system branded the worst in Europe, and manufacturing in the doldrums, the Chancellor has a long queue of people
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Players remember Jean in Beauty
AN amateur dramatic group is to stage its pantomime in January in memory of one of its members who died earlier this year. Thirsk and Sowerby Amateur Players did not stage a pantomime in 2001 after cancelling the event when the group heard one of its
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Leisure facilities receive top marks
LEISURE facilities in the Hambleton area of North Yorkshire are among the best in the country, according to official inspectors. The service was awarded top marks following a review by a Government team in a Best Value Inspection. It was given three stars
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Business booms at sex aids store
A CONTROVERSIAL shop that sells sex aids has declared that business is booming. The shop - Dominion, in Station Road, Redcar - is a Gothic and fetish clothing and accessories store. It was branded a disgrace by the chairman of Redcar and Cleveland Borough
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Tagging risk for young offenders
PERSISTENT young offenders across North Yorkshire face the risk of being electronically tagged from next week. Tough measures are being introduced across the county from Monday in a bid to reduce the number of crimes committed by young tearaways. And
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Children's abuser weeps as he is jailed
A man who sexually abused seven children, all aged under ten, was jailed yesterday. A seven-year-old girl told her mother about incidents involving Geoffrey Giles after watching a television soap with a pregnancy storyline, said prosecutor Deborah Sherwin
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Shop portrayal of Geordies described as offensive
A TV watchdog today promised to study an advertisement from high street giant WH Smith criticised as "offensive" to Geordies. The Christmas commercial, starring Only Fools and Horses actor Nicholas Lyndhurst, features an overweight family from Newcastle
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Cash fears for disabled as health firm closes
SCORES of disabled people in the region could be left out of pocket and without vital mobility equipment after a healthcare company was forced to close. Ashdale, which sells scooters, wheelchairs and mobility products, has been placed into administration
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Exam pass target set for children in care
A MAJOR education drive is expected to stem the flow of North-East youngsters in care leaving school with no qualifications. Almost two thirds of children in the care of Durham County Council's social services department currently leave school without
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Anger over closure of gym chain
THE boss of a North-East fitness empire forced into closure came out fighting last night amid angry criticism from customers. Marty Yates-Brown, who is facing charges of conspiracy to supply the drug cannabis, pulled the plug on the Classic World of Fitness
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£400,000 cash boost for sports initiative
A £400,000 scheme to get youngsters hooked on sport instead of drugs was launched yesterday. The Government's Positive Futures initiative will target teenagers tempted by drugs and use professional sports coaches to urge them to take up a sport instead
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Museum free-for-all is worth shouting about
THE National Railway Museum (NRM) celebrated a landmark day in its 26-year history yesterday - and shouted the news from the rooftops. The Loyal Company of Town Criers gathered in York to proclaim that the attraction, voted European Museum of the Year
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Experts ready to help fight the flab
SLIMMERS in the region will be able to get help with their battle of the bulge, thanks to a new team of weight-loss experts. Slimming World North-East has taken on four new consultants. Jayne Pederson, Jacqui Goodwin, Denise Collinson and Tracey Cole
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Anglers thank cod for a great day's fishing
ANGLERS descended on a town's seafront in search of a winning catch at an annual competition on the North-East coast. A total of 190 competitors vied for the prizes in five hours of North Sea fishing at the 17th Seaham Town Council Angling Competition
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Theatre full house for a Royal flash
Raunchy stars of Broadway musical The Full Monty were last night planning to strip off their G-strings and bare their crown jewels to the Queen. The six-strong male troupe - whose show opens in the UK next year - were due to go a step further than usual
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Union warns of red tape threat to farmers' future
FARMERS fear an increase in red tape in the wake of foot-and-mouth could plunge the industry into a new crisis. Foot-and-mouth disease has not been seen in the North-East for more than two months, but the National Farmers' Union (NFU) anticipates it will
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'Guess ended in death of patient'
A severely disabled patient died after a routine operation when a surgeon "guessed" how much local anaesthetic to give him, a court heard yesterday. Muscular dystrophy sufferer Andrew Ryan, 20, who weighed less than four stone, died after being administered
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Job Search 2001
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Plant fitter, Hartlepool, £6.05ph dep on exp, 40hrs pw, must be experienced in all aspects of earth moving equipment, dump trucks, excavators and wheel
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Job Search 2001
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Mobile carer, female, Chester-le-Street, £4.60ph, £5ph Sundays, 24hrs pw 6.30am to 10.30pm, required to visit clients in their own homes, employer will
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Businesses to be offered grant aid
EXTRA cash is on offer for North-East businesses suffering lingering problems as a result of the foot-and-mouth outbreak. Improvements grants of up to £6,000 each are available to assist development and diversification of companies. The cash comes from
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Training success in triplicate
FRED Mence Construction Ltd has enjoyed a treble training celebration. The Birtley civil engineering and building contractor notched a hat-trick of achievements as it announced that eight trainees had achieved NVQ successes, two employees had qualified
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£100m project sparks vision of rejuvenated south bank
THE renaissance of Gateshead's riverside is set to continue with a £100m development by Taylor Woodrow of a residential and leisure scheme. The first phase of the Baltic Quay scheme will be the creation of 237 single and two-bedroom apartments and penthouses
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Family on charges after club row
SIX members of the same family appeared in court yesterday charged with public order offences. Andrew Cliff, 35, of St Wilfred's Walk, South Church; John Paul Cliff, 28, of Front Street, West Auckland; Diane Cliff, 32, of Central Avenue, Mark Anthony
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Village opens up to the world
A GROWING collection of photographs and records chronicling the history of a former mining community is available to be read world-wide. The Brandon and Byshottles archive is now available via a website launched as part of Local History Week celebrations
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Reunion is cancelled
FORMER neighbours hoping to keep their 1950s community spirit alive have had to cancel a long-planned reunion. Old friends from South Church, Bishop Auckland, had spent months preparing for a reunion on December 8 in the Territorial Army Centre, St Andrew's
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Police launch crackdown to beat the winter burglars
A SEASONAL blitz on burglars has been launched in the run-up to Christmas, to curb the growing number of break-ins across a police force area. The month-long campaign by Durham Police will involve all 1,100 front-line officers, including the traffic unit
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Girls dance their way to the top
THREE dancing girls have won a national talent contest at a holiday camp. Sisters Kirsty and Tammy Potter and their friend Sarah Williamson, from Bishop Auckland, claimed top spot in the Pontins competition. The girls reached the final by winning a heat
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Hook to catch shoppers
HE was once Flash Gordon's biggest ally, but now larger-than-life actor Brian Blessed has thrown his weight behind an even better cause - to draw crowds of shoppers into Sunderland. The thespian, famed for his thunderous belly laugh, is in town to play
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Whitby looking for £50,000 windfall
WHITBY Town left for Plymouth yesterday hoping to realise a dream tonight and extend their FA Cup run with a giant-killing act against the Third Division table-toppers. The Seasiders, who took up Leeds United's offer to use their team bus for the 800-
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Southgate defends lacklustre attack
STAND-IN skipper Gareth Southgate believes Middlesbrough should not be too critical of their forwards. Boro's goalless draw at home to Ipswich on Sunday was the club's second consecutive game without finding the net. But Southgate insists that they have
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Hartlepool pair all set to sign
EXTENSIONS: Two of Hartlepool United's most promising talents are on the verge of signing extensions to their current contracts this morning. Left-back Mark Robinson, 20, and striker Adam Boyd, 19, will put pen-to-paper on deals which will tie them to
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Seething Quakers begin appeal against double dismissal
Darlington have begun their appeal against Saturday's two controversial red cards but manager Tommy Taylor is sceptical about the chances of them being rescinded. Referee Paul Alcock saw fit to send off Barry Conlon and Mark Ford during the 7-1 defeat
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'Bullied' schoolgirl loses her fight for life
A North-East schoolgirl who allegedly attempted suicide because she was bullied at school died today. Elaine Swift, 15, is believed to have taken an overdose of painkillers. She lost her battle for life this afternoon at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle
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Eva sings a happy tune on her 105th
EVA Clapham hit a high note in more ways than one yesterday when she celebrated her 105th birthday with family and friends. Organist Roland Brown was called to the Gardens Nursing Home, in Darlington, for the occasion so that Eva could sing along to favourites
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Taking steps to cut car journeys
SMOOTH-FLOWING traffic and ample parking spaces in Darlington are hampering efforts to get people onto public transport. Business managers and council officers made the comments at the fourth Employers Travel Forum meeting yesterday, when they discussed
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Charity is on luncheon menu
GUESTS to a charity luncheon next week could win a tour of the Emmerdale studio and village, at Yorkshire Television. The County Durham and Teesside branch of the British Red Cross is holding the luncheon on Friday, December 7, at Judges, Kirklevington
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Forward move for new ambulance base
PLANS to move ambulance crews from their base at Darlington Memorial Hospital to the town's fire station have taken a step forward. A planning application has been submitted to Darlington Borough Council by the North-East Ambulance Service NHS Trust,
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Distance learning company hit by funding blow
A COMPANY offering distance learning courses has gone into receivership. The National Distance Learning College, which was based on Teesside, made most of its staff redundant on Friday. From its headquarters in York House, Borough Road, Middlesbrough,
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Second doctor quits practice
PATIENTS in Darlington are being reassured that appointments will not be affected after a second GP resigned from a town centre practice. Dr Elaine Moore, a GP at Parkgate Health Centre, in Park Place, will leave the surgery at the end of the month. Her
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Hunt for family's fire hero rescuer
DETECTIVES and firefighters are appealing for the "quiet hero" who saved the lives of a woman and her five-year-old daughter to come forward. Firefighters believe the man deserves commendation for his actions at the Darlington home early on Sunday morning
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Grant helps to jazz up Flamingos
A JAZZ band for youngsters in Hartlepool is flying high after gaining a welcome cash boost. Hartlepool Flamingos have been given an £855 grant to replace worn-out instruments, such as kazoos and a glockenspiel. Some of the cash will also be used to buy
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Association initiative earns £5,000
A VOLUNTEER project in Hartlepool is to receive a £5,000 cash boost to buy new equipment. Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson will receive the cheque from the Abbey National Charitable Trust on behalf of the Owton Fens Community Association, on Friday. The
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Drivers warned 'don't make your car a target for thieves'
MOTORISTS who leave themselves open to theft by making vehicles "display cases on wheels" are being targeted in a new initiative. From the weekend, Cleveland Police will work with local authorities to identify vehicles parked with items like shopping,
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When every story has a tale to tell
IT MIGHT not have been as glamorous as the Booker - but judging Bishop Auckland Town Hall's short story competition recently was probably a lot more fun. Practise to Deceive was launched by Wear Valley Writers four years ago in memory of founder member
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Hear all sides
STEPHEN BYERS YOUR comment (Echo, Nov 19) was the usual brown-nosed "Labour can do no wrong" standard. Defending Stephen Byers just about defines the Echo's sycophantic, slavish adherence to Blairism in its relentless pursuit of our downfall as a proud
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Cloning: a gift or a gamble?
IT started with a twitch in his thumb as he stuck the letters on the sides of RAF jets but, within months, Shaun Wood had been forced to leave the service and, at 34, the dad of three was told he would never work again. Initially diagnosed with Parkinson's
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Tree gives shoppers chance to remember
A CHARITY Christmas tree inviting people to remember lost loved ones took pride of place in a shopping centre yesterday. This year's Teesside Hospice Tree of Life was placed inside the Cleveland Centre, Middlesbrough, where a representative from sponsor
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Former vice-principal dies
A FORMER senior figure in Darlington education has died following a long illness. Dr Harold Williams worked for 22 years in senior positions at Darlington College of Technology. His retirement, in 1986, aged 64, followed 12 years as vice-principal. Before
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TV star's advert offends Geordie viewers
Disgruntled Geordies have criticised a mickey-taking television advert featuring Only Fools and Horses star Nicholas Lyndhurst. High street chain WH Smith has been forced to apologise for offending Newcastle residents with its latest TV launch. The series
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Special school given double award honour
A SPECIAL school in North Yorkshire has gained the rare honour of a double award for the high standard of its curriculum. Springhead Community Special School, in Scarborough, takes pupils aged between two and 19 who have severe and profound learning difficulties
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Campaigners' work rewarded
AN environmental group has recognised its top green team's work in helping to secure woodland for future generations to enjoy. Hookstone Wood and Crimple Wood Preservation Group, in Harrogate, recently secured protective town green status for Hookstone
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Chapel given two years to find additional uses
THE future of a village's Methodist chapel is in the balance. Grewelthorpe Methodist Chapel, near Ripon, caused a stir 135 years ago when its high-rise roof went up, with several doubters wondering about the wisdom of having such a skyscraper in the small
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Butcher battles to save business
A REDCAR butcher forced to leave his premises to make way for a multi-million pound shopping development is battling to keep his business alive. David Fawcett used to operate from a prime spot opposite Marks and Spencer in the town's High Street. But
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Lifeboat sees first action
THE country's most sophisticated lifeboat has been put into operation off the North-East sea for the first time. The £86,100 Atlantic 75 lifeboat Leicester Challenge II has been based at Redcar, east Cleveland, for just over a week when Redcar Coastwatch
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Finger accessories point to cash for cinema
FILM buffs are offering a treat to digitabulists across the region, as they raise extra cash for a tiny volunteer-run cinema. A box of 300 aluminium thimbles, dating back to the 1930s, has been presented to the Ritz Cinema, in Thirsk. And bosses are hoping
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Child killer Artmstrong's case moves to London
Child killer Shaun Armstrong's High Court legal battle has been transferred to London - allaying fears that his case could be heard in the North-East. The Hartlepool community had been outraged that Armstrong could appear in court in the town where he
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Job Search 2001
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Catering assistant, Darlington, £4.10ph, 16hrs pw, Basic Food Hygiene Certificate and experience desirable. Ref: DAE 28221. LGV Class 1 driver, Bishop
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How to be a real martyr
THERE has been a lot of talk about the quality of the afterlife to be enjoyed by the Taliban. These terrorists claim that, if they die as martyrs, they will go to heaven to be welcomed by 72 virgins. Will these virgins be wearing the burqa, I wonder?
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For the way we live
IT MAY be recalled - indeed, it could hardly be forgotten - that last week's column was built primarily around Seaham Hall, an emporium where three-course Sunday lunch is £27 (each) and which markets itself with the comatose old clich "a hotel for the
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Non-league men prove real SWOTs
THE latest episode of non-league football's Restructuring Roadshow was staged last week at Stevenage Borough FC, 25 miles this side of London and over 200 south of Darlington. We'd last been there in January, 1998, a dreadful match between Stevenage and
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Marathon role for track star
Runners in the North-East are being invited to train with the athlete Kelly Holmes. They can also attend a knees-up and enjoy a free massage, but there is a catch. To qualify, they have to volunteer to run the London Marathon, in April, and raise £1,200
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Inquiry delays Tornado project
A REPORT into a troubled North-East steam locomotive project has cost £18,000 - three times as much as the cost of putting the problems right, it was claimed last night. Trustees behind the building of the first steam locomotive for more than 40 years
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Court replays women's burial site protest
THE arrest of six women who staged a sitdown protest outside a mass foot-and-mouth burial site was replayed before magistrates yesterday. A police video showed officers moving in to lead off the women after they refused to move away from the entrance
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Body-in-suitcase police reveal clue
Detectives investigating the murder of a woman whose body was hidden in a suitcase and dumped in a ditch have released photographs of the adhesive tape with which she was tied. The tape, produced exclusively for sale in shops in Tate galleries, was used
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Taliban 'will fight to the death'
HUNDREDS of US marines were last night poised near the Taliban's final stronghold of Kandahar for a bloody showdown with the crumbling Afghan regime. Cornered and facing annihilation, Taliban forces were dug in for a last stand as an advance force of
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Hope for thousands in drug revolution
A REVOLUTIONARY new "cure" for leukaemia pioneered in the North-East has been licensed, giving new hope to thousands of patients. Glivec, a new wonder pill which seeks out and kills leukaemia cells, was first tried out in the UK at Newcastle's Royal Victoria
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Important reading record gets permanent home
A unique insight into the reading habits of British lead miners and their families over two centuries is to be given a permanent resting place. Records of books lent out at the country's last subscription library in a dales cottage are to be handed over
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Ofgem is to lift controls
POWER industry regulator Ofgem said it would lift all price controls on gas and electricity suppliers as the market was now competitive enough. It said competition had developed to such an extent that it was possible to lift price controls while still
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Crunch date for Kvaerner
THOUSANDS of workers at Kvaerner are facing fresh fears for their jobs ahead of a crucial shareholders meeting which will determine the group's future. The Anglo-Norwegian engineering group, which has been on the brink of bankruptcy for weeks, said it
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Corporate clothing to grace top dealer
ONLY days after launching a new business division, fashion retailer Van Mildert has secured a contract with motor company Reg Vardy. Durham City-based Van Mildert, which has invested significantly in the launch of its own corporate sales division, has
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£100m loss posts fear for thousands of jobs
POSTAL group Consignia is set to press ahead with huge cost-cutting plans, which could include axing thousands of jobs, after announcing record half-year operating losses of £100m. After accounting for exceptional items such as redundancy costs and a
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Attacker listed as dangerous
A KNIFE attacker yesterday became one of the first violent criminals to be put on the new Dangerous Persons Database. Shane Taylor, 20, stabbed a man who was protecting an elderly widow. The knife went through the man's arm. Taylor, who had two previous
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Commendations honour bravery of rescuers
Police officers who saved a badly injured driver seconds before his car exploded were honoured for their "exceptional courage" yesterday. The officers - Sergeant Graham Brown and Constables Paul Ryans, Debbie Goad, Judith Dunning and Gordon Reid - found
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Police launch campaign on Christmas criminals
A BLITZ on burglars has been launched in the run up to Christmas to curb the growing number of break-ins. The month-long campaign by Durham Police will involve all 1,100 front-line officers, including the traffic unit and specialist teams of detectives
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Listen in on the musical world of Jane
THE musical world of the novelist Jane Austen will be revealed in Durham this week. Chamber ensemble Concert Royal is bringing Jane Austen's Musical England to the dli, Durham, tomorrow, at 1pm. Although best known for her writing, Jane Austen had an
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Families get connected to network with day of fun
AN activity day for County Durham disabled children and young people was held near Durham City at the weekend. The Children's Network event, organised by Durham County Council social services department, took place at the Deerness Valley Sports Centre
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Boss tips Bellamy to thrive on abuse
CONFIDENT Craig Bellamy is guaranteed to receive abuse from the Ipswich fans tonight and Newcastle boss Bobby Robson has no fears about it affecting the player's performance. Bellamy spent four years at the Tractor Boys' arch-rivals Norwich before leaving
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Sorensen wants consistency
DANISH goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen - recently voted the North-East's Player of the year - has called for more consistency from his Sunderland teammates after a fourth defeat in six games. The Wearsiders thought they had finally ended a dismal run when
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Hospital error led to heart failure, inquest hears
A PENSIONER died of heart failure after he was drip-fed saline solution more than six times faster than prescribed, an inquest heard. Robert Leckenby, 79, was admitted to the University Hospital of North Tees on the morning of December 12, 1998, after
