Archive
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Police turn up the heat and target summer drink drivers
SUMMER drink drivers are the target of a joint operation between Durham and Northumbria Police forces. Between now and the end of September, the two forces will hold round-the-clock observations and a series of roadside checks at specific locations to
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Demand to give police city force benefits
THE chairman of Cleveland Police Authority has called for the force to be given the same rights as big city authorities. Councillor Ken Walker was speaking about the announcement earlier this week that the Government had provided funding for 74 more police
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Farmers urged to let their hedges grow
FARMERS in County Durham are being urged to give a much-needed boost to wildlife and save cash. Durham County Council is calling on them not to cut their hedges and to instead let nature take its course. According to research, cutting hedges each year
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Gearing up for cycle track on college land
PLANS to transform a tract of land into a cycle track are likely to be approved, despite objections from residents. The proposals for land at the Derwentside College annexe in Lanchester include a looped cycle track, a trials track, and jump track. It
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Mine's a double, says proud landlord in town's floral show contest
PUBLICAN Malcolm Nixon is getting a taste for success after winning first place for the second year running in a town's floral contest. Mr Nixon picked up the title for best business premises with his fantastic floral displays in the beer garden at the
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Travelling by bus to Africa
CATCHING a double-decker bus to work is nothing unusual for many of us, unless of course you catch the number 33 to Africa. That is exactly what four intrepid travellers from the North-East have done, in a bid to help poor youngsters in a Ghanaian village
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Firm likely to win contract for recycling
A RECYCLING firm is likely to start paper collections from homes in Middlesbrough. On Tuesday, the borough council is expected to agree that a national firm, Cheshire Recycling, should be given the contract to recycle newspapers and magazines collected
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Our plea for a young criminal
AT the very moment that counsel Antony Braithwaite was on his feet in the High Court in London trying to persuade the Lord Chief Justice that The Northern Echo was conducting a witch-hunt against Shaun McKerry - "Homing Pigeon Boy" - the juvenile himself
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Villagers lose battle to stop school expansion
VILLAGERS who objected to plans to build an extra classroom at a local school have been defeated. People living in Heighington, near Darlington, expressed concern that the classroom would result in more children being accepted from outside the village
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Film series offers nostalgic train trip
A SPECIAL cinema event is to be held to celebrate the 2000 Railway Heritage Festival. Railway enthusiasts are invited to the Tyneside Cinema which is screening film clips of some classic steam trains on Thursday, August 17 at 5.45pm The classic 1936 film
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BBC at the The Northern Echo today
BBC Radio Cleveland was broadcasting from the offices of The Northern Echo this morning. One of the region's best-known broadcasters, Alan Wright presented his show from the chair of famous former editor WT Stead. Stead, the greatest campaigning journalist
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The spritual Tardis
BACK in the 1970s there was a chap in Close House, near Bishop Auckland, whose wife - perhaps not alone - complained of his going out drinking every night. Clearly resourceful, he turned the back yard shed into a pub, instead. It was called the Drunken
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Making breast feeding easier
A GROUP of mothers has become the first on Teesside to qualify as breast feeding supporters under a new health project. The nine women, from east Cleveland, have completed the peer supporters programme, designed to increase the number of women who breast
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Cash for ex-pit villages
THOUSANDS of people will benefit from plans to breathe new life into former pit villages, a council chief says. Durham City Council has been given £950,000 from the Single Regeneration Budget to revamp Bearpark, Bowburn, Brandon, Cassop, Esh Winning,
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Paint your boss for charity cash
WORKERS are being asked to sponsor their bosses and raise money for charity. Artist Paul Slattery will be drawing caricatures in the Cleveland Shopping Centre, Middlesbrough, on Tuesday, August 23, and Saturday, August 26, in aid of the Teesside Hospice
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Farmers issued with hedge advice to help wildlife and save money
FARMERS in County Durham are being urged to give a much-needed boost to wildlife, and save cash. Durham County Council is calling on them not to cut their hedges, and instead, let nature take its course. According to research, cutting hedges each year
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DTI_grant helps to create telecommunications jobs
THE beleaguered Teesside economy received a much needed boost yesterday with the creation of 170 new jobs. Industry Minister Alan Johnson was delighted to announce the news of the new posts at Middlesbrough-based Appleyards Plastics Ltd (APL). The firm
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Prescott approves Asda plan for £15m town centre store
HOPES of a retail revival in Bishop Auckland were given a boost yesterday when Asda received Government blessing for a £15m town centre superstore. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott gave conditional approval for the development at Wilson's Forge, between
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Crisis in the air
BOSSES last night claimed Teesside International Airport had a bright future after a crisis meeting shelved plans to revolutionise the way it is run. They talked about introducing more flights and pressing ahead with plans to develop a major freight handling
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John gears up for cycle ride to help neighbour
FORMER computer technician John Honneyman is gearing up for the cycle ride of his life to help multiple sclerosis sufferers. The 60-year-old, who is now a supply teacher, from Dalton-on-Tees, near Darlington, is taking part in a 1,000-mile cycle challenge
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The Butlins for monks
As the first ever guide book to Finchale Priory is published by English Heritage, Travel Editor Sarah French finds out about its 800-year history IT WAS the religious equivalent of Butlins, a 'holiday camp' where monks could escape the city. Though there
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When in Barcelona...
WHEN Emmerdale character Tricia Stokes decided to take a holiday trip to Spain she found an unusual way of swotting up on the local language. Her solution was to corner The Diner's Spanish chef, Carlos, for some crash lessons. A few basic phrases later
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Greyhound stadium room gutted by fire
A FUNCTION room undergoing renovation at a County Durham greyhound stadium has been gutted by fire. The lounge at the Pelaw Grange Greyhound Stadium, near Chester-le-Street, went up in flames after a fire engulfed the basement cellar yesterday afternoon
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Ferguson poised for a cut-price Mersey return
Duncan Ferguson was due to fly out this morning in an 18-man Newcastle squad for a friendly tomorrow night against Espanyol in Barcelona. But it looks certain he won't be in Toon next week. The big Scot is likely to be pulled off the plane to finalise
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Youngsters find the force is with them for museum craft session
A VISITING police horse provided the inspiration for a group of youngsters in Redcar to make police horses out of card. The activity was part of a series of events to coincide with an exhibition about the history of the police at the Kirkleatham Old Hall
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Fitness fight for Phillips
STAR STRIKER Kevin Phillips faces a battle against the clock to make the Sunderland starting line-up in the opening game of the new Premiership season against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light next Saturday. The lethal finisher, whose 30 top-flight goals
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Fitness fight for Phillips
STAR STRIKER Kevin Phillips faces a battle against the clock to make the Sunderland starting line-up in the opening game of the new Premiership season against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light next Saturday. The lethal finisher, whose 30 top-flight goals
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Crowds smash house windows
VIOLENCE has broken out in a North-East city after crowds were involved in a dispute with an alleged lesbian couple. At least 60 people gathered in Salem Street, Hendon, Sunderland, at the height of the trouble. The windows of the women's home have been
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Bus staff
STAFF at Arriva will step up their industrial action next week, after bus drivers voted overwhelmingly in favour of an overtime ban. The new move is in addition to 24-hour stoppages on Fridays, which will continue. Shoppers and workers were yesterday
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Golfers can chip in and boost trust funds
A CHARITY is taking to the greens to promote its work in the environment. The Acorn Trust, based at Delves Lane, is holding its annual golf day on the Fairways course at Burnopfield on Wednesday, September 6. The proceeds will go towards funding a range
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Passengers hit by strike action.
COMMUTERS across the region were suffering delays this morning as the third action by bus drivers in the region was held. All Arriva services in County Durham, Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Redcar have been affected by the strike
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Goal-hungry Lormor puts
HARTLEPOOL United's new signing Tony Lormor will be happy to upset some friends when he makes his debut against former club Lincoln City today. The 29-year-old frontman, who joined from Mansfield Town in midweek, still lives in Lincoln and is best friends
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Job cuts as bank merger proceeds
JOB cuts and branch closures will mark the £5.4 bn deal that saw former building society Woolwich bought by Barclays. Barclays revealed its plans to axe around 1,000 jobs and close 100 branches as it strives to make savings of £150m a year. The job cuts
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Bargain PC stolen from hospital
A HOSPITAL computer packed with confidential patient records was found for sale on a market stall. Bargain hunter Neil Ashurst paid £5 for the Compaq computer but was horrified when he got it home. Intimate details of medical complaints, together with
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Norris is chirpy chirpy cheep cheep after treatment for gout
NORRIS the talkative budgie may be the picture of health nowadays - but it wasn't always so. The seven-year-old bird used to suffer from an avian form of gout that almost cost him his life. But, thanks to some expert help, that's all behind him now. He's
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Martyrs campaign weighs in with landmark legal bid
THE future of pounds and ounces is due to be decided in a landmark legal battle fought out in a North-East courtroom. The first steps in the case, which will have massive implications for Britain's traders, were made yesterday. The test case, which will
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New world of opportunity for Quakers
DARLINGTON manager Gary Bennett last night insisted it "isn't the end of the world" after the summer departures of last season's strike force - and promised plenty of firepower at Rochdale today Bennett's side start the new campaign at Spotland with the
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Weir set to report fall in profits
FIGURES from advertising, engineering and hotels groups will provide the interest for the City next week. Engineering group Weir is expected to report interim pre-tax profits of £23m, against £28.3m when it reports on Wednesday. The company warned at
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Hear All Sides
MUSIC LIVE AS THE sounds of the recent BBC Music Live event fade, I would like to say thank you on behalf of Stockton Male Voice Choir to some of the organisers who made the event such a success. Carol Cook, from BBC Newcastle, Barbara McGuckin, of Stockton
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Archers and duellists come out for Bank holiday fun
ENTERTAINMENT on the coming Bank Holiday will be firmly lodged in the past, thanks to English Heritage. The properties the organisation runs in North Yorkshire will be turning the clock back, on August 27 and 28. At Whitby Abbey, the Dawn Duellists Society
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Dumigan still tips rivals for the crown
Tynedale, who conceded their unbeaten record last weekend, are still odds on favourites for the championship according to Swalwell captain Paul Dumighan. "They are 24 points ahead of us and it is inconceivable to think that they will lose two of their
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Just imagine this boy's name . . . It's easy if you try
BEATLES fanatics Stephen and Susan Sams didn't need any help from their friends when choosing a name for their newborn son - because Lennon Harrison hit the perfect note. The lifelong Fab Four fans, from Evenwood, in County Durham, decided to honour their
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management duo secures future of mechetronics
A NEW leadership team has taken control at the UK's leading solenoid manufacturer, guaranteeing 150 jobs at the site. The move at Bishop Auckland-based Mechetronics, established 80 years ago, will see a new ownership duo of Mitchell Wolfe and Jim Summerbell
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Surgeon facing inquiry over complaint about operation
A FORMER North Yorkshire surgeon is facing a General Medical Council inquiry over a complaint about his operating record. The disciplinary hearing comes just weeks after disgraced consultant Richard Neale was struck off following a series of botched operations
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Nest attacks may have scared away rare seabirds
ONE of the country's rarest seabirds is facing a bleak future in the region after being targeted by vandals and an egg collector. Environmentalists fear attacks on the Teesmouth breeding grounds have combined with natural hazards to scare away the beach-nesting
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Marske hand out warning to championship-chasing teams
Marske could make a significant impact on the destination of the championship trophy in the next couple of weeks. After stifling Guisborough's title challenge last weekend, they meet leaders Saltburn today and a week tomorrow host Redcar, who are in third
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Cheap and easy websites
THE Internet is becoming more and more accessible. Most of us have surfed the Net at sometime but, until now, only the real enthusiasts looked to get online and publish their hobbies, businesses, or passions on a web page. Part of the problem was the
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Businesses to lead the way into future
BUSINESSES in the Tees Valley have been given a chance to have their say on the future of work in the area. Manufacturing Challenge Tees Valley, which is drawing up a bid to run a new business support service, called a meeting at the Cellnet Riverside
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One Way to expand into art and music
A PROJECT that gives teenage Durham rock bands the chance to play in public has big plans for the future. The One Way Caf, based at All Saints' Church, Newton Hall, was founded three years ago to give young musicians an outlet. Now it is hoping to find
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Anne Frank exhibition is to feature at Durham Cathedral
THE moving story of Anne Frank, the Jewish girl whose diaries tell the horrifying and heroic account of her attempt to hide from the Nazis during the Second World War, is to feature in a new exhibition. The Anne Frank Educational Trust is bringing a display
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School gets permission for expansion
AN historic Darlington school has been given initial permission to expand. Councillors at Darlington Borough Council were asked to allow listed building consent for extensions to form a new classroom, stores, head-teacher's room and kitchen at Rise Carr
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Brigades unite in arson fight
FIRE services across the region have joined forces to try to cut the number of arson attacks during the summer holidays. Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Cleveland and Durham and Darlington brigades are working together to address the problem of fires started
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jeffrey proves again, there ain't nothing like a dame
FORMER Hi-de-hi! TV star Jeffrey Holland has revealed his one great ambition is to stage a one-man tribute show to Bishop Auckland's most famous son - Stan Laurel. Holland's confession concerning one of history's most revered comics came during yesterday's
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GPs to fund £75,000 move
NEW clinics are aiming to cut the waiting times for patients with chronic back problems by more than half. The move will see patients referred direct to a physiotherapist instead of having to wait to see a consultant, who would often end up sending them
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Child mentoring scheme claims early success
A SCHEME run by a children's charity to help truants and young offenders has been launched in Hartlepool and is proving successful. The mentoring and parenting scheme is run by Barnado's Hartbeat project and has recruited 20 volunteers, of all ages and
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Support for ban on drinking in street
DRINKING on the streets of Middlesbrough should be banned - according to a survey. Middlesbrough Borough Council's crime and disorder survey, sent to the town's citizens' panel, revealed that 87 per cent of people were against drinking on the streets.
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Cheap and easy websites
THE Internet is becoming more and more accessible. Most of us have surfed the Net at sometime but, until now, only the real enthusiasts looked to get online and publish their hobbies, businesses, or passions on a web page. Part of the problem was the
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Company sews up history with new tapestry
A MISSING section of the famous Bayeaux Tapestry has been recreated by Thirsk company, Madeira Threads, and is to go on show at St Mary's Church. The firm commissioned Jan Messent to recreate the lost 8ft section of the 230ft tapestry, made in the 11th
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Families defeated in fight to keep village pub open
THE last pints have been pulled at a village pub which a parish council tried to save from conversion into two homes. At the fourth attempt, developers have won their battle to call time on the Three Horsehoes in the Main Street, at Great Ouseburn, between
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Family joy as Joanne stars on the Street
THE mother of a North-East actress has told how she has been deluged with calls since her daughter stepped into a starring role in Britain's favourite soap. Joanne Rowden, from Middleton-St-George, near Darlington, County Durham, plays Paula Shipley,
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Gary's Orr-some performance
Some of the great names in golf have won at Woburn - Lee Trevino, Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros, Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam among them. But none of them ever did what Scotland's Gary Orr managed yesterday. He was simply Orr-some. The best
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Fort thought to be PoW camp for Scots
EVIDENCE of a vast prisoner of war camp built by the Romans for rebellious Scots has been unearthed near Hadrian's Wall. Archaeologists say the latest excavations at the Vindolana fort, near Hexham, have added weight to a theory that up to 2,000 prisoners
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Store refused to sell air freshener to girl
AN ANGRY father says his daughter was made to feel like a glue sniffer when supermarket staff refused to sell her air freshener. Richard Hewitt said his 11-year-old daughter Claire was sent to Asda, at Whinfield, Darlington, for groceries, but became
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No headpine
BACK in the 1970s there was a chap in Close House, near Bishop Auckland, whose wife - perhaps not alone - complained of his going out drinking every night. Clearly resourceful, he turned the back yard shed into a pub, instead. It was called the Drunken
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Day unit members produce their ceramic tile wonderwall
A MURAL created by members of a mental health day unit has been unveiled at a leisure centre. The colourful ceramic tile mural, measuring 16ft by 2ft has been installed at the Belle Vue Leisure Centre in Consett. The art masterpiece was designed and produced
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It's nearly time for the judges to start work
COMMUNITY groups wishing to enter The Northern Echo's environmental competition are running out of time The deadline for Making A Difference, which is sponsored by regional development agency One NorthEast, is Tuesday. It was set up to pay tribute to
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Travelling by bus to Africa
CATCHING a double-decker bus to work is nothing unusual for many of us, unless of course you catch the number 33 to Africa. That is exactly what four intrepid travellers from the North-East have done, in a bid to help poor youngsters in a Ghanaian village
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Thieves leave Chubby man Gary feeling blue
THE air turned blue, but not for the first time, when thieves struck at the home of impersonator Gary Smith. Since Christmas, Gary has been entertaining crowds around the region with his Chubby Brown impersonation. While foul-mouthed comedian Chubby Brown
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Government likely to enter house demolition wrangle
THE Government is expected to be brought in to a controversial plan to demolish hundreds of homes in Redcar. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council wants to demolish 214 houses on the 40-year-old Courts estate, the Roseberry Square shopping centre and Riverdale
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New law to target monster hedges
MONSTER hedges would be cut down to size under plans aimed at avoiding disputes between neighbours. The proposals being considered by the Government would give local authorities the power to intervene in disputes about overgrown garden hedges. They may
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Coming up in The Northern Echo tomorrow
Read the latest shocking installment in the story of the notorious teenage offender known as Homing Pigeon Boy in The Northern Echo on Saturday.
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It's nearly time for the judges to start work
COMMUNITY groups wishing to enter The Northern Echo's environmental competition are running out of time The deadline for Making A Difference, which is sponsored by regional development agency One NorthEast, is Tuesday. It was set up to pay tribute to
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Boro give up the fight to keep unhappy Ziege
Christian Ziege was last night officially told he can go after Middlesbrough abandoned the fight to keep him at the Riverside. And the German broke his silence over the saga to admit he always wanted to go: "It's been a war of nerves but now I'm happy
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Mother and baby showered with glass
A MOTHER and her five-week-old baby were showered with glass when youths used a catapult to smash the window of a moving train. Police are looking for information on young people who were seen firing at Metro trains travelling between the Bede and Tyne
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A resort with sun, sea, sand - and now bright lights
SOME of of Scarborough's best-known landmarks are to be floodlit to give the resort a new night-time look and boost its tourist business. The Rotunda Museum, overlooking South Bay, has become the first to be illuminated and the Spa Bridge, lighthouse
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Norton's new boys play waiting game
Norton, fourth from bottom with only one win in 14 matches, have signed two new players, but neither is included in the side for their game against Chester-le-Street. Richard Evans, who recently scored an unbeaten 177 for Seaton Carew in the Darlington
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Quinn gets set to play a leading role in showdown
RICHARD QUINN looks poised to play a starring role in this afternoon's glittering Europe versus the Rest of the World Shergar Cup at Ascot. Quinn, riding for the European team skippered by Kevin Keegan, has a great chance of getting his side off to a
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Texas chainsaw thumping for actor
A CHAINSAW wielding maniac is back on his terror beat - despite getting a thumping from one victim who was a little too scared. It was all in a day's work for part-time actor Merril Joshua when he donned a mask and picked up his fake chainsaw ready to
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Martyrs campaign weighs in with landmark legal bid
THE future of pounds and ounces is due to be decided in a landmark legal battle fought out in a North-East courtroom. The first steps in the case, which will have massive implications for Britain's traders, were made yesterday. The test case, which will
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Line-up of new-look council revealed
THE line-up of the major public sector decision-making body in North Yorkshire has been revealed. Government proposals to streamline local government means county council decisions will be taken by a six-strong body, instead of in larger committees. The
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New law to target monster hedges
MONSTER hedges would be cut down to size under plans aimed at avoiding disputes between neighbours. The proposals being considered by the Government would give local authorities the power to intervene in disputes about overgrown garden hedges. They may
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Just imagine this boy's name . . . It's easy if you try
BEATLES fanatics Stephen and Susan Sams didn't need any help from their friends when choosing a name for their newborn son - because Lennon Harrison hit the perfect note. The lifelong Fab Four fans, from Evenwood, in County Durham, decided to honour their
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New Asda store for County Durham town
SUPERMARKET giant Asda has been given permission to build a £15m new store in Bishop Auckland - despite fears from other traders that the development will kill the town's traditional retail centre. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, as environment secretary
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Air quality station to test traffic pollution
AIR quality in Darlington can be assessed on a daily basis for the first time. An air monitoring station to check the level of traffic pollution has been set up next to the town's inner ring road. Darlington Borough Council has installed the station on
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Coming up: Football season special
To celebrate the start of the football season, The Northern Echo is publishing a special 16 page Kick-Off supplement. It will include the latest information on all the North-East teams in the Premiership and Nationwide leagues as well as the non-league
