Archive
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Paras to drop in on town show
The Hartlepool show takes place on August 19 and 20, at Grayfields Recreation Ground, at 11.30pm, both days. Attractions include vintage vehicles, quad bikes and free fall parachutists. The 4th Para freefall parachute team will drop in on the Saturday
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Town makeover plans on track
AMBITIOUS plans for the long awaited £25m makeover of Newton Aycliffe town centre have taken a step forward. Durham County Council has exchanged contracts with developers for the land on which it will be built. Manchester-based developer CTP has big ideas
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Villagers welcome Leo Blair to fold
SEDGEFIELD had never seen anything like it. Leo Blair was the centre of attention as crowds gathered outside St John Fisher RC Church in the village. In between straining for a sight of two-month-old Leo, there were, however, plenty of things to keep
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There's more to life than work
A new business venture in Yorkshire aims to solve the problem of a growing band of professional people who don't have the time to sort out their social lives. It will do it for them. The Executive Network is aiming to tap into what is fast becoming a
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Allstars put more trophies in the cabinet
SINCE the end of the 1999/2000 league season, football has not taken a back seat for the lads at Darlington 21st Allstars FC. There have been a number of additions to the cub's trophy cabinet and a highly successful trip to Holland for the U12s, U14s
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Double for Annfield
YOUNGSTER from an Annfield Plain school are quick cricket champions once again. Annfield Plain Jun-ior School cricket team have been named the Derwentside quick cricket champions for the second year running. And they won this one for their retiring headteacher
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Chief constable under fire
CHIEF Constable Barry Shaw is today at the centre of new shock allegations which will rock the shaky foundations of Cleveland Police force. A senior civilian employee has used new Government 'whistle-blowing' legislation to make serious claims which,
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Coming up on Wednesday; Ann Heron special report
Thursday marks the tenth anniversary of one of the region's most perplexing murders. Read a special report in The Northern Echo tomorrow on the continuing search for the killer of Ann Heron, above, who was found with her throat cut at her home near Darlington
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Drama unfolds for students
TWO former New College Durham students are heading for places at two of the country's top drama colleges. Brian Lonsdale, of Crook, has been offered a place at Rada (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts) and Hannah Bond, of Durham, will study for a degree at
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Details sought on war heroes
A MAN is appealing for information on two Wear Valley war heroes whose bravery earned them the highest honours awarded to soldiers. During the First World War only 180 soldiers were awarded the military medal for Bravery in the Field on three separate
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£2m rebuilding scheme to replace slum homes
A report has identified slum homes to be bulldozed in a pit village. The neglected properties are said to be beyond repair. Wear Valley District Council has drawn up a list of 50 houses, in Eldon Lane, near Bishop Auckland, to be demolished under a £2m
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Festival set to pull in crowds
EIGHT thousand music fans are expected to descend on Stanley this weekend for one of the country's top blues festivals. The Stanley Blues Festival has grown in stature since its inception in 1993 and now attracts top names alongside up-and-coming or well-known
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Dancers show off their footwork
TALENTED dancers with learning difficulties performed contemporary routines they helped to choreograph themselves. Moving Tide, a dance group that includes people from County Durham Care's Empower day Centre at Chester-le-Street and the Durham Centre
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Police investigate fatal car smash
POLICE accident specialists are investigating a car smash which left a teenager dead. The body of Stuart Walker, 18, a care assistant from Sudburn Avenue, Staindrop, was discovered in the early hours of Monday morning at the side of his car. A passing
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Urinal has thrifty history
IT may not be a pot of gold, but one artefact at an ancient stone fortress has shed new light on an unusual example of Yorkshire thrift. Archaeologists at the 950-year-old Richmond Castle have revealed that, even in times of medieval conflict, absolutely
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artists stage gallery takeover for millennium exhibition
LOCAL artists have put their talents on display by taking over a town art gallery. The Cleveland Art Society's millennium exhibition was opened last night by Middlesbrough Borough Council's head of leisure and arts Phil Rogers. The society, which was
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Shoppers add advice to the list
SHOPPERS at Darlington's Asda store can now call on their local councillor while picking up their groceries. The store has teamed up with councillors from the Haughton ward to offer surgeries in an experiment believed to be the first of its kind. The
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New lease of life for historic barn
A PIECE of East Durham's farming history is being given a new lease of life. An 18th Century barn at Beacon House Farm, Beacon Hill, Easington, is being restored to its former glory by the Turning The Tide project. When the work is finished the building
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Dad at large - Let the train increase the strain
CHILDREN have a habit of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time..."Dad, are you going to get a wig?" - Christopher, aged ten, just as I was convincing myself in front of the mirror that it wasn't really a bald patch, just a bad haircut. "Mum, can I
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Bulldozers move in
A NEW report has identified homes to be bulldozed in a pit village because they are beyond repair. Wear Valley District Council has drawn up a list of 50 houses on Eldon Lane, near Bishop Auckland, to be demolished under a £2m renewal scheme. The deterioration
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Food group's vip launch
A NEW "food chain" which could safeguard village stores by encouraging people to shop on their door-step was given a top level launch. Government minister and North West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong backed the Local Food Links Initiative in Weardale, which
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Street history uncovered
A WOMAN has travelled from Australia to solve the mystery of a street name in Consett. Patricia O' Sullivan, from Queensland, knew her father's family had come from a street called Turn Coats Row in the Blackhill area. In a bid to find out more she made
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For one fan, it will be a right royal celebration
WHEN the Queen Mother celebrates her 100th birthday tomorrow, it is guaranteed that one royal fan will be bringing out the bunting - and the commemorative books, plates, spoons, pictures and trinkets. Magistrate Anita Atkinson is a committed monarchist
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Licence hitch holds up plans for pub plan
PLANS to turn Durham's former police station into a pub and restaurant complex hit a legal hitch yesterday. Richard Lazenby, former chairman of Mr Lazenby's sausage company, on Teesside, hoped to win drinks licences for his £2.5m conversion of the building
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Students to create garden
STUDENTS at a Durham school are celebrating after winning cash in a car dealer's environmental awards. Framwellgate School has been given £300 from Mill Volvo's Practical Environmental Projects scheme. The money will be used by the Movement Schools Group
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£50,000 for beauty spot that's too popular
ONE of the region's most popular beauty spots is to receive £50,000 to help it survive the rigors of the summer. Castle Eden Dene, one of County Durham's National Nature Reserves, has not only suffered from the summer downpours, but has been a victim
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Father faces second tragedy after son found dead in canal
A FAMILY has been hit by a second tragedy in four years with the death of a son found drowned in a canal. Epileptic Tim Bywater is thought to have had a fit while cycling on a canal footpath and fallen into the water. His mother Audrey, a retired Darlington
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Fortune set for a profitable ride
ALTHOUGH Jimmy Fortune has pledged to keep out of trouble with the Stewards, he may still need to be at his most forceful in order to get John Ferneley ahead in the William Hill Mile at Goodwood today. Fortune's aggressive style has not always pleased
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Letters
HIPPOS AND FOOTBALL A RECENT correspondent (HAS, July 27) highlighted the inherent racism of an Echo sports article in which a black football player was described as "having the touch of a bull elephant and a female hippo's understanding of the off-side
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Points make prizes for deserving youngsters
AN unusual award system at a community college has proved a hit with students. Sedgefield Community College awards points for good behaviour, attendance and school work throughout the year. Every time a student gains a point, they earn entry into the
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Killer drug alert to heroin users after 40 deaths
HEROIN addicts are at the centre of an urgent health alert over fears batches of contaminated drugs are being sold in the region. Warning leaflets are being posted at specialist drug clinics, doctors' surgeries, primary care groups and accident and emergency
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Solicitors team up as comedians
A PAIR of solicitors are swapping courtrooms for a club by becoming stand-up comics. Michael Laffey and Lee Fenwick leave behind their law books to team up in a comedy circus called Soup in their spare time. Lee, 31, a Crown Prosecution Service lawyer
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Shipyard anger over 'cheap labour'
SHIPYARD workers on the Tyne are to meet Government officials, to discuss a row over Romanians being used as "cheap labour" - 350 miles away. The 76 foreign workers were brought in to carry out steel fabrication work on the multi-million pound refit of
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We all need a break
WELL of course other people's children can be a pain - but so can grown ups too. Let's face it, in the world of work, nobody's perfect. There is a child-free backlash. Now that firms are becoming more family-friendly, people without children are apparently
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Phillips all-clear to kick-start season
Kevin Phillips' injury fears were swept away by a specialist's verdict yesterday. A question mark hovered over the Sunderland striker after he was sent home early from their continental tour. Phillips failed to start a game and needed treatment on a knee
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Events celebrate record turn-outs
ORGANISERS of two of the North-East's premier summer events were celebrating attracting record crowds after making their final calculations yesterday. More than one million people turned out to see the 12th Sunderland International Airshow at Seaburn,
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-Interesting leads' in hunt for IRA informer's attackers
DETECTIVES hunting three men involved in the shooting of an IRA informer have revealed they were investigating "interesting new information". The new information has come to light since police launched a new appeal for information in June, after revealing
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MP meets top surgeons to discuss ways of improving cancer care in North-East
LEADING surgeons will meet in the region today to discuss a proposed overhaul of cancer services. Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, will be meeting surgeons in the radiotherapy department of South Cleveland Hospital to talk about
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What now for the Quakers?
FOOTBALL, as they say, is a funny old game. Last year we were applauding the transformation in the fortunes of Darlington FC. Multi-millionaire George Reynolds had ridden to the rescue, bailed out the club, promised to take it to the Premiership, pushed
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Donkey power draws crowds
THEY may not have the glamour of their larger equine cousins but donkeys still have pulling power. One of the largest donkey shows in the north saw 21 of the beasts gather at Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe, near Thirsk, for the Donkey Breed Society event
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Rail museum dream moves step nearer
A rail town's £6m dream of winning back its place in steam history was given a major boost last week. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) announced initial Stage One support for a £4.57m bid from Shildon to set up an off-shoot of York's National Railway Museum
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Companies are urged to express their views on SBS bid
A TEES Valley organisation is urging local companies to put forward ideas about what kind of business support services are needed to help businesses grow. The Tees Valley Partnership - a group which brings together agencies involved in shaping the area's
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Museum to put on fun day
THE Friends of Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, will stage a family fun day, on Saturday, August 12. Among activities, from 11am to 5pm, artist Trevor Atkinson will be working with visitors to create The Bowes longest landscape, using the museum's collections
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Coastal attractions on wave of popularity
THREE major new tourist attractions are proving to be a big hit with visitors. Hartlepool Borough Council chiefs say they are delighted with the response since the Maritime Adventure Centre (MAC), Playship and Virtual Reality (VR) Centre opened earlier
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Accident risk falls at plant
EMPLOYEES at a North-East industrial plant are half as likely to be injured at work as they were two years ago. The Corus Coil Plate Mill, on Teesside, has shown an improvement in all health and safety categories. Mill manager Garry Newbould said its
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Artist goes to tea at the Palace
GLASS artist Maralyn O'Keefe got the surprise of her life when she received a call inviting her to tea with the Queen. Mrs O'Keefe and her husband Ron, received the invitation to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in recognition of her work. The
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Miners' 'no compo' pay-out scandal
SIXTEEN months after the Government promised to compensate miners whose lungs were wrecked in the pits, only one man out of more than 110,000 who have applied for cash has received his due. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officials yesterday admitted
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TV presenter enters resignation row
TELEVISION personality Richard Whiteley has stepped into a row surrounding the resignation of Heather Hancock as chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Whiteley, writing his first column in Dales Life magazine, says the former Whitehall
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£1.5m Lottery bid to restore Victorian heart of a town
THE centre of a Teesside town could be in line for a new lease of life as part of a £1.5m regeneration bid. The bid has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund by a partnership formed in Middlesbrough to repair and renovate the Victorian townscape
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Flood strategy planned for danger zones
NEW measures are being planned by the Environment Agency to head off the threat of floods. A report compiled by the agency cites a number of points to be tackled - including a new flood warning service in South Church and West Auckland, County Durham.
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Drive group faces end of the road
DARLINGTON'S Advanced Motorists group could be facing the end of the road unless it gets more volunteers. The group, which offers advanced motoring tuition to drivers, says it desperately needs more people to help with its activities. It also needs more
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Tests may net killer
MAJOR new developments in genetic testing could hold the key to solving a ten-year murder in Darlington. Detectives hunting the killer of Ann Heron have confirmed that a series of new DNA tests are to be carried out on the exhibits collected during the
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Schools urged to discourage mobiles
HEAD teachers have been told by the Government to actively discourage pupils under 16 from using mobile phones. Despite no research to prove that mobile telephones pose a definite health risk, Education Secretary David Blunkett has written to schools
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Shopping complex expansion approved
THE region's biggest shopping centre has been given the final go-ahead for a £50m expansion which could create 1,000 jobs. The MetroCentre, near Gateshead, will increase by about ten per cent under plans for 371,367sq ft of extra floor space. The development
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The long fight for miners' payouts
PAT Daglish admits bluntly that she is getting tired of fighting her late father's cause. But she says: "I can't let my dad down - he told me to keep fighting after he was gone. "It is no longer about money now - it is the principal. Even if he had lived
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Library hours have changed
CHANGES have been announced to the opening hours at Darlington's Crown Street and Cockerton libraries. The changes follow a survey to assess whether the libraries were meeting visitors' needs. At Crown Street on Wednesdays the lending library will now
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Mencap night at the Riverside
DURHAM County Cricket Club was holding an event at the Riverside this Thursday The evening, hosted by David Holborn and Bill Midgely, as chairman and ex-chairman of Mencap's North-East appeal committee, was due to be attended by representatives from the
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Hospitals get cash for -wash and brush-up'
CLEAN-UP squads are to be sent into North-East hospitals as part of the Government's plans to revive the NHS. Health Minister Lord Hunt announced a £4m cash injection to the Northern and Yorkshire region as part of a nationwide wash and brush-up for the
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Teaching the kids a lesson ot two
THE list seems endless, a stream of accolades and nationally recognised exam certificates handed over at an end of term ceremony. Micro electronics, health and safety, market research. Working with plastics, working with wood, working with food. Studying
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Unicycle charity ride a success
THREE friends who unicycled from coast to coast have allocated some of the money raised by their venture to Oxhill Youth Club, near Stanley. Roger Davies, of Norton, Stockton, and his friends Sarah Miller and Paul Selwood, from Reading, are also aiming
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Number could be up for BT depot
A MAJOR employer is expected to quit a market town as part of a national shake-up. BT has revealed plans to close its Northallerton depot as an option under consideration to streamline its operations. The company said it was aiming to avoid compulsory
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Abigail jumps to it for charity
LITTLE Abigail Burnley from Sedgefield, left, is bouncing for joy after raising £200 for charity. The toddler, pictured with Joanne Tinkler, collected the cash after taking part in a sponsored bounce at the House of Eden nursery in Rushyford. Abigail,
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Trust to benefit from petrol spending habits
THE Acorn Trust is asking car owners to get their fuel at any Fina garage and put points on the trust's loyalty card. The trust, a charity, works in Derwentside to help residents, community groups, schools and businesses look after their environment.
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Gardeners bid farewell to allotments
ALLOTMENT holders are being forced to give up their plots to make room for a cemetery expansion. Half of the 50 allotments at Cemetery Fields in Northallerton will be lost when the neighbouring graveyard expands to provide enough burial space for the
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Cestrians go so close
THERE was an exciting finale to Chester-le-Street's game against Sunderland at Ashbrooke in the Foster's North-East Premier League when only 14 runs and one wicket separated the pair. Faced with a target of 212, the Cestrians ended on 211-9 as Ashley
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Such a bright elusive butterfly
IT IS to be a round Britain column. Wokingham will again intrude, and Harlow, and places closer to home and heart like - say - Newton Aycliffe. The e-mail menopause, ineffable and inescapable, is in part to blame. One of the Ludds no longer, Gadfly has
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Disappointment as pupils fail to stop school merger
A PUPILS' plea to Prime Minister Tony Blair has failed to persuade his education chief to save their school. A shake-up in Spennymoor means that North Road Junior and Bessemer Park Nursery and Infant schools will be replaced in 2002 by a single primary
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Giant inflatable lights up riverside festival
A VIVID experience of light and colour is the latest attraction at Stockton International Riverside Festival. Visitors to the largest inflatable structure to ever come to Teesside walk inside the brightly-coloured cathedral to experience the stimulating
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Backlash at sudden bakery closure
THE repercussions of the closure of one of the region's most famous family businesses has begun, with shop owners complaining the firm didn't even bother to inform them. The Northern Echo revealed yesterday that Murrays the Bakers had gone into liquidation
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Appeal pays off for club
SELF-HELP has seen a cricket club celebrate the opening of a new pavilion after a long-running appeal. Members of Scruton Cricket Club, near Northallerton, raised £30,000 towards the building, paying for a builder to do the bricklaying and put the roof
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Campaigners are ready to fight again
CAMPAIGNERS who blocked plans to build flats in the West End of Darlington are gearing up for a fresh battle. Shepherd Homes has submitted a new application to build 41 flats in the wooded grounds of Greystones, a Victorian villa in Carmel Road North.
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Fair folk asked to foot bill
A PARK-and-ride scheme during a popular town fair is to continue - but showmen are being asked to foot the bill. The system was introduced to ease traffic problems during Northallerton's May Fair. The original scheme was funded jointly by department store
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Heat is on for summer criminals
EXTRA police patrols are being put into Darlington's town centre and parks in an effort to prevent a repeat of summer robberies that took place last year. Supt Phil Aspey, Darlington police's divisional commander, said the summer holidays last year saw
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Farmers market is happy to serve up 'bitter' food
BEER bangers were one of the unusual treats on offer when a farmers' market coincided with a beer festival. The potent mix of some of the finest local ales and home-grown produce appeared in Bishop Auckland market place last week. Local producers pulled
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There's more to life than work
A new business venture in Yorkshire aims to solve the problem of a growing band of professional people who don't have the time to sort out their social lives. It will do it for them. The Executive Network is aiming to tap into what is fast becoming a
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Awards for caring policemen
TWO police officers who battled in vain to save the life of a heart attack victim were due to have their actions recognised last night by a national body. PC Ross Brewster and PC Darren Cresswell tried to revive the 46-year-old local man after he collapsed
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Last shift ends in fine style
A CLEANER who has worked at Darlington Fire Station since it opened went home in style on her final day. Pam MacDonald decided to call it a day after working at the station for 27 years. And firefighters, who say she has become part of the furniture,
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On yer bike, parish gets bobbies mobile again
A PARISH council is giving local police officers a helping hand in the fight against youth crime and disorder. Belmont Parish Council, on the outskirts of Durham, has given the area's beat bobbies two mountain bikes so they can get about the area quickly
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Council plans 'green' homes showcase
A PIONEERING project to develop model homes is aiming to usher in a new era in saving energy and money. Four new homes will be built under proposals put forward by Hambleton District Council and housing associations, each using different methods of energy
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Geography teacher steps down
LONG-SERVING teacher Ted Marchal returned to work in the town where he went to school. Now he has stepped down after 33 years teaching geography at Thirsk School in a career which has also seen him become head of year. Mr Marchal had been educated at
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Council goes to root of problem
A KILLER of the countryside is being targeted in a new campaign. Ragwort is one of the most frequent causes of plant poisoning of livestock and can prove fatal, causing irreversible liver damage in horses, cattle and sheep. Now Hambleton District Council
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New fitness club will boost employment
A LEADING health club operator is set to set to create 40 jobs in Darlington with the opening of a new fitness club next year. Bannatyne Fitness has begun construction on a brand new health club on the site of the former bus depot on Haughton Raod, Darlington
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Theatre's educational talents waiting in the wings
A PROFESSIONAL theatre company is aiming to build on its previous successes with the creation of a GNVQ course in performing arts. The Small Fire Leaders' Course by Theatre Cap-a-Pie, based in Lanchester, has enjoyed great success in helping unemployed
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Ex-butler is VIP for day on hall visit
WHEN Alfred Allen first arrived at Beningbrough Hall it was as a humble, below-stairs hall-boy. But his return to the stately home yesterday could not have been more different - he was treated as an honoured guest and given the full VIP treatment. Now
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On course for jobs
DISABLED people are being given the chance to get back to work under a new initiative. More than 200 people have so far taken advantage of the scheme in the Hambleton and Richmondshire districts, through finding employment or getting places on training
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Prices at the markets
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed. Fwd:2 calves, 1,184 sheep. Bull calves to £118. Lambs std to 78.2p av 74.8p; med to 83.3p av 78.6p; heavy to 77.2p av 76.5p, Cast ewes: Mule to 332; Cont to £33; Suff to £28.50; Leics to £31; horned to £11. DARLINGTON. - Thurs of
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Paying the price for Reynolds' golden rule
AT A fans' forum in June, Darlington chairman George Reynolds said: "He who has the gold, rules." David Hodgson yesterday discovered exactly what that meant. His gold had been sold to other clubs, or at least allowed to slip through his pan. Eighteen
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Local history centre is launched
A STUDY of the North-East's history has been given £886,000 by the Arts and Humanities Research Board. The universities of Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside are setting up the AHRB Centre for North-East England History. It will cover
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Hall busy with holiday fun
AN attraction in Teesdale, promises to be buzzing with activity this month. Witham Hall, Barnard Castle, has events lined up, many of them aimed at youngsters during the school holidays. The hall's summer programme got off to an artistic start yesterday
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Health chief to retire
THE man who is overseeing the creation of a super-hospital for Durham has announced plans to retire. North Durham Health Care Trust chief executive Bill Worth, 54, will take early retirement next year after 37 years in the NHS. Mr Worth joined the trust
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Sports Club wants more players
NEWTON Aycliffe Sports Club is looking for new members for its junior football section. Training sessions, costing 50p, take place at Moore Lane on Sunday mornings from 10am to noon and Wednesday evenings from 6.30pm to 8pm. The club runs football teams
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Dad at large - No business like show business
BACK to the rabbits...It was the week of the village fete. We go every year, but this time it was special. There were stalls, bouncy castles, miniature train rides and a line dancing display among the attractions. But it was the pet competition which
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Steam celebration planned for autumn
A MAJOR celebration of the region's railway heritage will take place in Darlington this year despite the collapse of the planned Cavalcade of Steam. Thousands were left disappointed when it was announced the Rail 2000 event had folded last month, but
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Judge spares £100,000 drugs courier
A FAMILY man was caught with £100,000-worth of cannabis just an hour after he had taken delivery of it. Harry Cochrane, 52, had 23 kilos of the class-B drug in a box in his hallway when police raided his home in March, Durham Crown Court heard yesterday
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Pupils battle it out for swimming honours
MORE than 100 schoolchildren made a splash at Hambleton Leisure Centre when they took part in an end-of-term swimming contest. The students, from 14 schools across the district, spent two hours battling it out at the Northallerton inter-primary sch-ools
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A fry-up's the secret to keep bob truckin' at 85
RECORD-breaking lorry driver Bob Curry has revealed what keeps him trucking at the grand old age of 80 - a traditional fry-up every morning. Bob, of Hylton Lane, Sunderland, has been confirmed by Guinness World Record bosses as the oldest trucker in the
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Residents fight for play field
VILLAGERS fighting plans to build homes on a playing field are to have talks with council officials behind the scheme. People at Ushaw Moor are campaigning against proposals for 200 houses on the field near High View, which they say was bequeathed to
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Let justice be done - before it's too late
THOUSANDS of miners and their families are being invited by The Northern Echo to join a rallying cry for justice - before it is too late. So far, 111,560 miners and widows have applied for compensation for lung diseases, which the Government promised
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Leeholme hold seven-point lead
LEEHOLME have a seven-point lead in division one of the Durham and District Bowling Lea-gue after beating Shotton 9-1. Glenholme, Crook, with a 10-0 win over Elm Tree, Stockton, move into second place. Their rink scores were: Glenholme skips first: D.
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Boro-bound Boksic takes Gazza's advice
Alen Boksic will today become a Middlesbrough player, thanks to Paul Gascoigne. The Croatian striker, who is expected to complete a £2.5m move from Italian champions Lazio, revealed that "Gazza told me this is a good club to play for". The 30-year-old
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Durham City go down by 24 runs
HORDEN'S lead at the top of the Dur-ham Senior League has been reduced to just seven points after they lost by 33 runs to second-placed Philadelphia for whom Andrew Robinson claimed 4-10. Burnmoor, who had a free day, and Hetton Lyons are back in the
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Marching over principles
WITH 40 miles or so of the Vale of York about to be desecrated by a line of giant pylons, against which locals have fought a valiant yet hopeless battle over the last nine years, let us look at a similar, but even greater eruption of pylon vandalism elsewhere
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Surprise wedding no one budgeted for
CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown and his girlfriend Sarah Macaulay are to marry today in his Dunfermline East constituency. In a statement issued last night by his advisor, Mr Brown said the couple were "absolutely delighted". The statement read: "Sarah Macaulay
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Cash boost for school science laboratories
SCIENCE lessons have been given a shot in the arm with news of a major cash injection over the next two years. North Yorkshire County Council has been given £330,000 to spend on upgrading science laboratories this year, with a similar amount earmarked
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Teenage attacker tried to rape girl
A SCHOOLBOY convicted by a jury of trying to rape a 16-year-old girl in an alley has been told to expect to be locked up for a long time. Judge Peter Fox lifted an order banning the publication of the identity of 15-year-old Glen Coltman after the jury
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Police seek views of minority groups
MEETINGS will be held across County Durham next week to give ethnic and other minority groups the chance to shape future policing. The force has announced that it has appointed a firm of consultants to find out how the group felt policing could be improved
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Pair locked up for four years over purse thefts
TWO women targeted elderly people in a "highly polished" and "despicable" series of thefts. Doreen Miller, 43, and Barbara Maberly, 33, stole purses from the bags of elderly women as they went about their shopping. Yesterday, both were jailed for four
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Trips aim to provide cancer charity boost
CANCER sufferers in the region are to benefit from a series of fundraising trips. The trips have been organised by the Teesdale committee of the Cancer Research Campaign, which hopes to raise thousands of pounds for sufferers in the North-East. Organisers
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Hope of low profile washed away
A rookie police officer who risked his life to rescue a drowning man had been hoping to keep a low profile in his new career. PC Richard Smith was into only his fourth day as a Sunderland bobby when he dived into the River Wear to save a man who had plummeted
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Mobile Michael puts poetry in motion
AN ARTS initiative is taking verse to the villages - by putting poetry in motion. A mobile library is about to take to the road with more than its usual complement of books of fact and fiction. Onboard will also be the van's own poet-in-residence, documenting
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Ritzy performance is a winner
A TALENTED young dancer is looking forward to treading the boards in a new touring production. Ritzy Keaveny, seven, of Bowburn, has been picked to dance in a show that will be playing at Wakefield, Manchester, and at Sunderland Empire in September. The
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Paralysed accident victim regains feeling in arms
A YOUNG man left paralysed from the shoulders down in a freak accident has begun to show signs of improvement. Michael Rowe, 21, was injured when gales blew down a tree on top of his car, on the Fishburn to Trimdon road, in County Durham, last November
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Acorn project flourishes
A MILLENNIUM project designed to improve neighbourly spirit in north Durham communities was hailed a success by organisers, yesterday. Members of County Durham organisation the Acorn Trust, which aims to improve the area's environment, have worked on
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Ex-patients demand cash
THE victims of disgraced surgeon Richard Neale have called on the hospital that employed him to compensate his former patients. Mr Neale, 52, from Boroughbridge, was struck off the medical register last week for serious professional misconduct, after
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Women eliminated from murder probe
POLICE have eliminated two women from their inquiries into the murder of Tyneside student Sara Cameron. The women answered a recent police appeal for witnesses who could provide clues about the final movements of the 23-year-old Finnish student to come
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New twist in row over vehicle access to drove roads
A LEGAL wrangle over the opening up of ancient drove roads to motorcycles and off-road vehicles has taken a new turn. A High Court judge has ordered that three of four routes added by Durham County Council to the Definitive Map of Public Rights of Way
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MP heads back to the classroom
AN MP has gone back to school to encourage exceptional pupils to stay in the classroom during their holidays. Ashok Kumar, the Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, attended a ground-breaking summer school at Nunthorpe School earlier this
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Elite squad coaching set
DURHAM cannot claim all the credit for Nicky Peng's recent success with England Under 19s. In fact, the Northumberland Cricket Board's coaching secretary, Russ Perry, believes Peng owes more to the fact that he was the pilot for an elite squad which has
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Constable praised for undercover youth work
A POLICE officer, who went undercover to help a group of unemployed young people, has been nominated for a national award. PC Beverley Gill, of Cleveland Police, worked with 11 young people to help them turn their backs on drugs and the dole, as part
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Offenders create picturesque area
CONVICTED young offenders in East Durham are doing their bit for their community by creating an area of outstanding natural beauty. The offenders are at work turning an inaccessible beauty spot at the village of Dawdon, near Seaham, into a place the whole
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Men chill out as ladies shop
A NEW shoe shop in the Yorkshire Dales believes it has found the perfect way to help men relax while their partners browse for footwear. The shop's solution to the age-old problem is a chill-out zone for men. There they can escape female chatter over
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Motorists called to "Dump the Pump"
PETROL stations across the region are bracing themselves for a fall in customer numbers as motorists prepare to desert garage forecourts. The Dump-the Pump boycott has been organised on the Internet by Garry Russell, from Essex. He is urging all motorists
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Skate park dream closer
A GROUP of east Durham teenagers finally flipped after being told off time and again for skateboarding in the street. Fed up with a barrage of criticism, they decided the time had come to launch their own campaign to secure a skateboard park. After two
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Playbus takes the road to fun
YOUNGSTERS in east Cleveland are having a fun climbing aboard a bus with a difference throughout the long summer holidays. The playbus has been set up by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and is visiting villages throughout the district for the rest
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Cash bid to restore industrial heritage
ONE of the region's most important archaeological sites could be restored if a bid for almost £400,000 of lottery money is successful. Gateshead Council is to submit bids to English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund for the cash to restore the eighteenth
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It's News at Ten again - for some
CABLE TV customers in Teesside and Darlington were among the first in the country to watch News at Ten again yesterday - as part of the launch of the new ITN News Channel at 1pm. Stockton's ntl service did have teething troubles, with some areas unable
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Outlook grim for bakery workers
ONE of the most famous names in regional baking looks likely to go with the loss of 60 jobs. Murrays the Bakers opened its first shop in Darlington 77 years ago, but yesterday management said the company was in liquidation and had closed all six of its
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Association secures cash to make free courses offer
GOVERNMENT cash is giving support to adults learners in North Yorkshire. Free courses are on offer at the county's adult education centre, Grantley Hall, near Ripon. The Adult Residential Colleges Association has secured funding from the Department of
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Non-musicians wanted to join the band
A BRASS band has issued an urgent appeal for volunteers to take part in a musical experiment. Tutor Andrew Dalby, of Bedale brass band, aims to prove that anyone can learn to play a brass instrument well enough in a few hours to be able to join a musical
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Bob honoured for his work on the web
AN Internet pioneer from the region has been rewarded with an MBE from the Queen for his sterling work providing websites for community groups. Bob Liddle, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, also met the former James Bond star, Sir Sean Connery, at
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Serving the troops
A CONSETT soldier has spoken of the difficulties of keeping the troops clothed, fed and happy in Kosovo. Army officer George Myers, of the 5th General Service Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, is serving as part of the British contribution to
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Minority groups to meet police
MEETINGS are being held across County Durham this week to give ethnic and other minority groups the chance to shape future policing. The Durham force has appointed a firm of consultants to find out how the group felt policing could be improved. A postal
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Council hoping to start repair of flood-hit road
A ROAD that has been closed due to devastating floods will cost up to £250,000 to repair. A 60-metre stretch of the B6282 between the South Church roundabout and the Alligator pub shut in June after the road slid down a 10ft embankment towards the River
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Community link-up gets under way
WORK is under way on a scheme to link three Derwentside communities with a series of tracks for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The Kyo Greenways Project, which will take three years to complete, will connect Dipton, Stanley and Annfield Plain. The
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Ferryhill made to fight for second win
FERRYHILL made only their second victory of the season in the Worthington CIU Summer Snoo-ker League but they were taken to the decider by the visiting Durham City. Gary Ward put City ahead but then Bernie Jones and Mark Wilson scored for the home team
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Words roll as chick flick hits screens
HARD-OF-HEARING cinema-goers are being given the chance to enjoy an animated blockbuster without needing a hearing aid. Thirsk's volunteer-run Ritz Cinema has acquired one of only five subtitled prints in the UK of the hit film Chicken Run. The subtitled
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Shop is back in business
A MOTHER of two is aiming to breathe new life into a rural community by reopening a village store. Julie Thompson admits she is bucking the current trend of stores having to close and is taking 'a bit of a gamble', but she is convinced she has the right
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Farmers' markets success is growing
FARMERS are being given the chance to sell direct to the public on a regular basis after the success of a series of markets. More than 3,000 people visited the farmers' markets which were in Ripon held over the last two months. Now a programme of markets
