Archive
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Approval for £3m health club brings hope of 40 jobs
AT least 40 jobs will be created after the Government gave the go-ahead for a £3m health club to be built in Darlington. Plans by Bannatyne Fitness to build a health club at a former bus garage site on Haughton Road were originally put on hold because
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Puppies seek a loving home
TWO young dogs are on the lookout for new homes. The puppies are being cared for by the Darlington branch of the National Animal Sanctuaries Support League, which says they need owners with plenty of time and patience. The two dogs in question are a five-month-old
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Officials calm fears that village library will shut
OFFICIALS have rejected rumours that they plan to shut down a former pit village's library. They say that, not only will Sacriston Library be staying open, it will be fitted with a computer system to improve the service. Earlier this year, Chester-le-Street
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Summer trip for rail fans
THE Friends of Darlington Railway Museum is holding its summer outing on Sunday, September 3. Those taking part in the event will travel on a vintage coach to North Tyneside, where two rail museums will be visited. Workshops not normally open to the public
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Spy cameras scheme for housing estate
SPY cameras could be installed on a Darlington housing estate and at the railway station early next year. Darlington Borough Council's cabinet yesterday agreed to appoint design consultants for 19 closed-circuit television sites on Firth Moor and the
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Head quits school for job driving lorries
THE row over red tape in Britain's schools took a new twist last night when a fed-up North-East head revealed he had quit his £31,000-a-year job to become a lorry driver. Tim Gunn, a teacher for nearly 30 years, said the constant administration and management
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Joanne saddles up for international debut
ONE of the region's top teenage riders has achieved her dream of winning international honours. Joanne Little, from Howden-le-Wear, near Crook, County Durham, and her chestnut pony, Decka, have been chosen for a British event team competing in Haagen,
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Letters
PETROL PRICES FIVE years ago British petrol was significantly cheaper than anywhere else in Western Europe. It is now by far the most expensive. Some garages are already charging £4 a gallon, of which over £3 is tax. As always, the elderly, the disabled
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Ex-soldier shown mercy
A FORMER soldier who robbed a newsagent's shop and terrified the owner's daughter, yesterday escaped with only a 12-month prison sentence after a judge heard that Northern Ireland duty left him with post-traumatic stress disorder. James White, 32, of
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Parish split over female rector
A RURAL community has been split by the possibility of a woman priest being appointed to their parish. Residents in the parish of Forcett, Melsonby and Aldbrough, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, are divided over whether they should be prepared to accept
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Warne the obstacle as Durham seek Trophy joy
SHANE Warne is likely to prove the biggest obstacle to Durham's NatWest Trophy progress at the Riverside today. But despite the presence of the Australian spin wizard in the Hampshire ranks, Durham could not have asked for a better chance of reaching
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Edwards sorry for no show
WORLD triple jump record holder Jonathan Edwards said yesterday it was with "great difficulty" that he had decided to miss next week's Spar European Cup on his home track at Gateshead International Stadium. But the 34-year-old adopted Tynesider wants
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Families told mud-slide homes uninhabitable for months
FAMILIES in a North-East village devastated by flooding have been warned it could be weeks or months before their homes are habitable again. Surveyors are expected to begin drawing up "delapidation" schedules - itemised accounts of what is needed to be
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Industry comes close to recession
JOB cuts in the beleagured manufacturing industry accelerated in recent months as the sector came close to recession, a new survey has revealed. The recent decline in the value of the pound arrived just in time to prevent manufacturing industry falling
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Leisure assistant on sex charges
A LEISURE centre employee is due to appear in court today charged with sex offences against young girls. Mark Eyles, 22, of West Auckland Road, Darlington, has been suspended from his post as a leisure assistant at the town's Dolphin Centre while police
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Kournikova's verbal volley at rival Liz
Russian tennis beauty Anna Kournikova has raised temperatures by firing a verbal volley at her actress rival, Liz Hurley, calling her "ugly". The 19-year-old star, whose glamorous looks have turned heads at Wimbledon, is said to have made the comment
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Protestors at US base
ANTI-NUCLEAR protestors yesterday stepped up their campaign against space-age plans for US bases, which they claim would trigger a new nuclear arms race. Campaigners marked the United States' Independence Day by presenting a "declaration of independence
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Drive launched to curb surge of petrol thefts
POLICE chiefs last night pledged to "name and shame" motorists who drive off without paying for their petrol. Cleveland Police have drawn up plans to use closed circuit TV footage of drivers in a "rogue's gallery" of highway thieves for all to see. Anyone
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Norwegian snub for Gascoigne
TROUBLED Middlesbrough star Paul Gascoigne has been dealt a new blow after Norwegian side Valerenga snubbed the chance to take him on loan. Midfielder Gascoigne is desperately trying to regain full fitness after nearly five months without a competitive
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Norwegian snub for Gascoigne
TROUBLED Middlesbrough star Paul Gascoigne has been dealt a new blow after Norwegian side Valerenga snubbed the chance to take him on loan. Midfielder Gascoigne is desperately trying to regain full fitness after nearly five months without a competitive
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Memorial trophy seeks next Mannion
FOOTBALL'S golden boy Wilf Mannion was remembered by young soccer hopefuls yesterday. Talented players from Alderman William Jones County School in Middlesbrough became the proud winners of the Wilf Mannion Cup, in a new primary schools tournament. Mr
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Man held knife to throat of PC
A POLICEMAN told how he thought he was going to die when he was held at knifepoint after stumbling into a furious domestic row. PC Anthony Carty described how he "felt the blood drain from him" as Robert Monarch held the knife to his throat. Newcastle
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Settle bill, Taylor urges
FOOTBALL trouble-shooter Rogan Taylor yesterday urged Newcastle United to settle a legal bill which threatens to bankrupt fans who lost a High Court challenge against the club. The Save Our Seats campaign, formed by six supporters, faces costs of £82,000
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A demon bowler is born . . . only five years ago
CRICKET mad five-year-old Danny Thexton was bowled over when he was asked to make up the numbers for his local village club's under-15 team. He was even more thrilled when the Esh Winning skipper asked him to bowl what turned out to be the last over of
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Reid on the verge of Peeters swoop
SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid is set to make his first signing of the summer, paying Belgian club KV Mechelen £250,000 for Tom Peeters. The 21-year-old midfielder is due to arrive on Wearside this week to complete medical formalities before signing a
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S&N_delays Center Parcs sale after Dutch fire
SCOTTISH & Newcastle, the UK's largest brewer, said the disposal of its Center Parcs holiday villages would be delayed for a few weeks while the company clears up after a major fire at one of its European sites. The fire at the De Eemhof Center Parcs
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Housing tribute to fund volunteer
A £640,000 housing scheme for the elderly and disabled is to be opened in Darlington today. Bob Harrison Court, in Pendleton Road, which consists of six bungalows for the elderly and two for the disabled, is a scheme prompted by the Railway Housing Association
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Country wardens take to the air
A crime-busting scheme has improved its system of communications by taking delivery of seven mobile radios. The Wensleydale section of Daleswatch has been given the new equipment by the Richmondshire Community Safety Partnership. The Daleswatch group
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Deal brings new jobs hope for Rothmans cigarette site
JUST over a week ago Tony Blair stood before an invited audience in his Sedgefield constituency to speak of the phoenix of the Filtronic factory rising from the ashes of Fujitsu. Yesterday the phoenix mark two emerged, ironically from the ashes of the
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Cancer pledge under threat
HEALTH experts have warned that a chronic shortage of lung specialists in the North-East could delay treatment for suspected cancer patients. Despite a pledge by the Government that everyone with suspected cancer will be seen within two weeks, experts
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Couple win apologies after holiday nightmare
A HOLIDAY company has apologised to a North-East couple who say their Greek island holiday turned into a nightmare. Marie Burley, 27, and boyfriend Barry Liddell, 28, say they were stranded at the Hotel Alexander, on the island of Zante, after demanding
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Traders asked to dig deep to help to save riverside path
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a popular riverside walk are appealing for financial support from traders. A section of the Easby Abbey footpath, near Richmond, has collapsed because of serious erosion of the banks of the River Swale and further damage is
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Funeral firm still bidding for listed building
PROPOSALS to convert one of North Yorkshire's most historic buildings into a funeral parlour could be resurrected. Darlington-based Seaton Leng had put forward plans to take over Register House in Northallerton, including building an extension to the
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Council gears up to lower speed limit
DETAILS of the proposed first 20mph zones have been drawn up by North Yorkshire County Council. In the north of the county 15 requests for the new limit have been lodged with the council since it agreed to the move six months ago. Officials have examined
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Dangerous tree finally for the axe
VILLAGERS are mourning the end of an era after highways chiefs announced that a 120-year-old tree was posing a threat to public safety. The sycamore tree at Scorton, near Richmond, was condemned at a public meeting after only recently being given an 11th
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Regiment stands defiant
They have the distinction of surviving one of the bloodiest conflicts in modern history. And nearly 200 years after the British Army captured them from Napoleon's troops, they are still the cause of international friction. The military drum and mace,
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Car pool aims to cut pollution
FOUR major employers have joined forces in a bid to reduce the volume of traffic in North Yorkshire's county town. The county council is working with Hambleton District Council, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Friarage Hospital
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Youngsters will be going for gold
YOUNGSTERS are meeting this weekend to compete in the Teesside finals of the Millennium Youth Games. Young people from Stockton will battle it out with finalists from Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool in the day-long event, on Saturday
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Half-way mark for race preparation
THE training schedule for the 15th Darlington 10km Road Run has reached the half-way point. Each week, The Northern Echo will print a fitness programme which should help even those who have not been inside a gym in years to complete the Tees Valley TEC
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Drive launched to curb surge
POLICE chiefs last night pledged to "name and shame" motorists who drive off without paying for their petrol. Cleveland Police have drawn up plans to use closed circuit TV footage of drivers in a "rogue's gallery" of highway thieves for all to see. Anyone
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Man jailed for robbing university newcomer
A student was robbed within minutes of arriving at Teesside University for his first term, a court heard yesterday. Stuart True was held up at knifepoint as he started unpacking his bags in the halls of residence at Middlesbrough. The 18-year-old told
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Police issue alert over burglars
POLICE have urged villagers to be on alert after burglars were spotted near their community. People living in Neasham, near Darlington, are being asked to contact police immediately if they see anyone acting suspiciously in the area. The appeal comes
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Gemma's back from spell away
AN employment service worker is back in the North-East after spending time in a Swedish classroom. Gemma Wealls, 22, has returned from a six-week work placement in the Swedish town of Falun as a classroom assistant, where she has been working with pre-school
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Group fears for future of revamp
A RESIDENTS' association has raised concerns that a major regeneration programme in New Shildon could be about to run into problems. New Shildon Residents' Association believes that private home owners are losing confidence in a £1m housing facelift project
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S&N delays Center Parcs sale after Dutch fire
SCOTTISH & Newcastle, the UK's largest brewer, said the disposal of its Center Parcs holiday villages would be delayed for a few weeks while the company clears up after a major fire at one of its European sites. The fire at the De Eemhof Center Parcs
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Prison warning to woman after false allegation
A WOMAN has admitted making up claims that she was assaulted by a neighbour. Durham Crown Court was told Sharon Elizabeth Tough invented the attack story, in which she claimed to have suffered facial injuries, during a dispute with a neighbouring family
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Deal brings new jobs hope for Rothmans cigarette site
JUST over a week ago Tony Blair stood before an invited audience in his Sedgefield constituency to speak of the phoenix of the Filtronic factory rising from the ashes of Fujitsu. Yesterday the phoenix mark two emerged, ironically from the ashes of the
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Furniture firm serves community
A FURNITURE recycling scheme providing jobs for disadvantaged groups has been set up in South Shields. Funded by the European Social Fund and the Government's Single Regeneration Budget, South Tyneside Furniture Recycling wants 20 trainees to work in
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Shoppers saddle up
SUPERMARKET shoppers are being given the chance to do their bit for the environment - by taking their groceries home by bike. In a pioneering move, Tesco in Catterick Garrison is to introduce a 'bike hod' scheme, providing trailers to carry shopping that
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Millennium day to remember
YOUNGSTERS have been given a Millennium memento to mark their time at a primary school. All 280 pupils at Applegarth Primary in Northallerton have been given a special Millennium medallion, complete with an inscribed presentation box. The presentation
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Rural towns in line for windfall
MARKET towns are in with a chance of landing a £1m boost. Investment of more than £1m is expected to be injected into each of the towns chosen to take part in the ground-breaking plan, which could become a model for nationwide efforts to revitalise rural
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Desperate dash to dish up
TRAFFIC police whisked to the aid of a stranded 12-year-old chef after finding her struggling along the hard shoulder of the A1 carrying a chicken, cutlery and kitchen utensils. They discovered panic-stricken Nicola Ramsay, from Little Crakehall, near
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Farewell to the practice that made perfect
PATIENTS are mourning the end of an era now that one of the oldest family practices in the North-East is winding up. Dr Arun Banerjee has been treating patients at the Red House surgery, in Crook, for the past 26 years, although the practice has been
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Youngsters get ready for volleyball
TEAMS of young sports stars are preparing to compete in the inaugural Redcar and Cleveland junior volleyball competition. More than 200 youngsters are expected to take part in the beach volleyball contest on Saturday, July 15. Teams of four will compete
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Motorists warned of traffic delays
DRIVERS have been warned to expect delays until the end of the week at one of south Durham's busiest road junctions. Traffic lights at Cavern Gate, at the bottom of Woodhouse Lane, in Bishop Auckland, have been out of action since an accident destroyed
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Olympic stars of tomorrow compete
YOUNGSTERS geared up for the Olympic Games by having their own festival of athletics yesterday. Around 3,500 budding athletes from 120 primary and special schools took part in the fifth Durham County Council primary schools athletics festival at Chester-le-Street
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Mallon will be speaker
RAY Mallon launched a new career yesterday - as a fundraiser for a children's hospice. Detective Superintendent Mallon - the officer at the centre of the Operation Lancet controversy - toured the Butterwick Children's Hospice, Stockton, Teesside. He said
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Robocop accuses MP of 'switch'
SUSPENDED "zero tolerance" detective Ray Mallon last night sparked a fresh row, after claiming a critical North-East Labour MP had once admitted that the police officer was the victim of a "personal vendetta". Detective Superintendent Mallon accused Stockton
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Council counts cost of floods
A RIVERBANK damaged by floods is to be repaired at a cost of almost £30,000. Severe flooding in spring last year washed away some of the bank along Cod Beck in Thirsk, next to the Todds Yard housing development. Following talks with the Cod Beck Internal
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Wardens bid in battle to beat crime
CRIME-BUSTING neighbourhood wardens could be on patrol throughout Redcar and Cleveland next year. The local authority is bidding for £680,000 of Government cash to set up a scheme costing £1.36m over three years. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council hopes
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Robbers think they do victims -a favour'
ARMED robbery victims in the North-East have reacted angrily to the publication of a book in which villains talk about their life of crime. Many of the 340 robbers interviewed for the controversial book, Commercial Robber, felt people who worked with
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Opera singer's stage is also her back garden
WHEN Shakespeare said "All the world's a stage" he certainly did not have Marika van der Meer's back garden in mind. But that has not stopped the opera singer and her partner and manager Andre Romijn creating their own auditorium behind their home. Marika
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Tributes paid to rugby club stalwart
MEMBERS of Bishop Auckland Rugby Club have paid tribute to stalwart founder member, Ted Robinson, who has died after a long illness at the age of 68. "Ted called the very first meeting to set up the club in 1976," said former chairman Les Wood. "He was
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Driving Rascal round bend no bar to a win
RYMER'S RASCAL might well turn out to be a menacing prospect as far as the bookies' are concerned at Catterick this afternoon. Scurrying around tight left-hand bends presents few problems for Eric Alston's eight-year-old because he has shown time and
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Man held over Leeds shooting
A 26-year-old North-East man was arrested yesterday in connection with the shooting of a father-of-two, police said. Anthony Nixon, 36, was shot through the window of his home as he watched television on June 23. The former motor dealer suffered injuries
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Police officer to answer drugs charge
A POLICE officer quizzed in connection with an armed robbery is to be charged with drugs offences. PC Arthur Swaine had been questioned by detectives investigating a raid on a post office in the Yorkshire Dales, but was later released without charge.
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Pilot paul powers home
A FAMILY will turn out in force to see one of their own make a dramatic homecoming. Flight Lieutenant Paul Binns, 34, will be one of the stars of the Sunderland International Airshow when he goes through his paces in his Jaguar GR3 frontline fighter jet
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Tributes to former RAF war ace
TRIBUTES have been paid to a man noted for distinguished wartime RAF service, who has died at the age of 86. Douglas Hirst Swan, served as a bomber navigator and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross during his war service, in which he flew more
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Warne the obstacle as Durham seek Trophy joy
SHANE Warne is likely to prove the biggest obstacle to Durham's NatWest Trophy progress at the Riverside today. But despite the presence of the Australian spin wizard in the Hampshire ranks, Durham could not have asked for a better chance of reaching
