Archive
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here come the hungarian hotsteppers - prompting reunion for two young friends
A TEENAGER travelled 130 miles for a reunion with her Hungarian dancer friend at an international arts festival in the North-East. Rachel Beezley, 14, and Barbara Pesti, 13, who is with a Hungarian children's folklore group at the Billingham International
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Vicar makes a 4,500-mile dash to wedding altar
A VICAR embarked on a transatlantic dash to provide the icing on the cake for a couple's wedding. The Reverend Kevin Wyld, originally from Newton Aycliffe, had been a friend of Denise Bowen's family for many years and always promised to marry Denise and
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Ian cooks up a taste of history
THE story of 18th Century explorer Captain James Cook was brought to life for hundreds of North-East children yesterday. Resplendent in full uniform, tricorn hat, knee breeches and stockings, the great explorer, alias assistant museums curator Ian Stubbs
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Cash boost for mothers in education
TWO mothers have opened new chapters on their lives, thanks to help with childcare from a pioneering project. Lesley Bates and Nicola Thomas have both won grants towards childcare costs, so they have time to study on university or college courses in pursuit
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Wizard fun for children
THE bizarre world of the Harry Potter books came to entertain bookworms at a Teesside library. Young fans of the wizard and witchcraft tales had the chance to take on the appearance of some of the characters of the worldwide best sellers. Face painters
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Homes scheme for landmark hill opposed
A DEVELOPER has unveiled controversial plans to build homes on a landmark hill on the outskirts of Sunderland. Bowey Homes wants to build 15 two-storey houses and 45 five-storey flats on Humbeldon Hill, off Durham Road. Company spokesman Paul Robson said
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Colourful road safety drive by car-hire firm
A CAR-HIRE company with North-East links has launched a colourful safety drive. Rental firm Europcar, which has a branch at Teesside International Airport, is giving away colouring-in pictures and crayons to customers' children. The pictures that youngsters
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Family's farewell to tragedy boy
FAMILY and friends gathered for the funeral of Darlington schoolboy Christopher Glen. Christopher, 15, died after getting into difficulty while swimming in the River Tees near Cleasby Quarry. Friends from Eastbourne School were among the mourners at St
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Couple search for stray cat's owners
A RETIRED couple are cat-minding following the rescue of a stray kitten which became stranded on their roof. The young grey moggy was brought to safety by firefighters from the ridge of the roof on George and Irene Clarkson's bungalow in Belmont, Durham
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Workshop for lovers of dance music
YOUNG people who love music are being given the chance to join a modern dance music workshop. Cleveland Arts has organised the workshop with funding from the Department for Education and Employment, and the Neighbourhood Support Scheme as part of its
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Agency's plea for crime fight aid
A CRIME-fighting charity yesterday appealed for help from the business community. The Durham Agency Against Crime has worked for the past ten years challenging criminals at grassroots level. But its chief executive, Laz Szomoru, yesterday said he was
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Debt is biggest problem for clients going to citizen's advice bureau
DEBT is the main problem for people who turn to an advice agency for help, according to a new report. The annual report of the Hambleton Citizen's Advice Bureau has identified concerns over debts as the largest single issue for its clients, followed by
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Tiger roars away at the top once again
Tiger Woods' sumptuous summer continued with an opening six-under-par 66 in the United States PGA championship in Louisville, Kentucky yesterday. But this time the world number one, chasing a third successive Major victory after his runaway triumphs in
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Teenagers who prove 'bias of Oxbridge'
THE national debate over university elitism was re-ignited last night after A-level results revealed the talent of youngsters rejected by Oxford and Cambridge. The row erupted again after news that state-educated Laura Spence, who was rejected by an Oxford
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Fergie vows to shine after returning 'home'
Duncan Ferguson claimed last night he will prove he is value for money after his controversial return to Everton was finally clinched after days of bitter wrangling. The Scottish star has rejoined the club he left in December 1998, signing a five-year
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Full steam ahead for some wizard railway fun
IT has seen some of the most famous names of the steam age, but the next train arriving at Goathland Station will have even more pulling power. The Hogwarts Express is to make an appearance on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway after the station was chosen
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Letters
HERITAGE SEAHAM is my birthplace and it was therefore very moving to read Sarah French's account of the town in The Tide is Turning (Echo, Aug 5). The town has been updated by a lick of paint and shimmering lights but there ought to be something that
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Last chance plea for -most unwanted dog'
Owners of an animal refuge centre are making one last desperate appeal to find a home for Britain's most unwanted dog. Sandy the mongrel, now 12, was a playful two-year-old when he arrived at the Eighton Banks refuge in Gateshead in 1989. Kathleen Copeland
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They're not gonna crawl to ugly-bug ball
YOU get the distinct feeling you are being watched when you walk past Graeme Hopper's latest work. The giant spiders and other insects, some of the creations at his workshop in Hunwick, County Durham, are so animated they look as if they are about to
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'Speed up cash payout for our pitmen'
TWO North-East Labour MPs last night turned up the heat on the Government over delays in compensation payments to dying miners and their families. Fraser Kemp and Gerry Steinberg are demanding urgent action to ensure that thousands of claims made on behalf
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Arrests follow drugs raids
FOUR men and three women have been arrested by police in South Tyneside investigating the supply of illegal drugs. The suspects were arrested on Tuesday following raids on homes in the Chichester and Westoe areas. A quantity of drugs, believed to be heroin
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Is this a mission impossible?
BREATHE in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out. It's something we take for granted, in fact it's so natural we can do it in our sleep. Live between sea level and 10,000ft and, as long as you are fit, there are no problems. Climb above that level or
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Bridge work completed ahead of schedule
TRAFFIC through a village will be back to normal this weekend because bridge repairs have finished two weeks early. Strengthening work on Slack Bridge, on the B6282 at Butterknowle, Teesdale, will end tomorrow night. The £37,000 contract, carried out
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Tillerman is pick of bunch for Kinane at showdown
APTLY named Tillerman (3.40) looks a steering job for Mick Kinane in this afternoon's Group 3 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury. Kinane experienced the power of Tillerman when the pair scooped the £87,000 first prize for the Tote International Handicap at
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Bids invited for historic turf
BIDS are invited for a piece of English footballing history to help children from Chernobyl enjoy a holiday in the North-East. Herrington Burn YMCA, Houghton-le-Spring, is hosting a four-week break for children from the town devastated by the nuclear
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Boldly throwing new light on our knowledge of space
ASTRONOMERS at Durham University will today throw new light on the formation of galaxies billions of years away from Earth. Research carried out by The Durham Cosmology Group shows there are star systems beyond what scientists have called The Final Frontier
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Improvised fundraising
NUNS, Baywatch lifeguards and one-legged chimpanzees took to the stage in a sponsored improvisation by Jack Drum Youth Theatre members on Monday at Crook's Elite Hall to raise money for group leader Brian Lomsdale, who has been accepted into the Royal
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Town clinches £30m for plan to bring in jobs and business
THE final £30m of funding for the biggest regeneration scheme ever undertaken in County Durham was announced yesterday. The payout is the last installment for a multi-million pound scheme designed to breathe new life into the seaside town of Seaham. The
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Missing Kellie urged to get in touch with sons
MISSING North-East prostitute Kellie Pratt was urged last night to get in touch with her two young sons. The appeal was made as detectives from Norfolk held a press conference in Kellie's home city of Newcastle yesterday. The 28-year-old went missing
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Sums using flour power
FRACTIONS and subtractions might be difficult for many people, but for one group of youngsters it is a piece of cake. A team of children decided to use flour power to improve their numeracy skills at a summer school at Haughton Community School, in Darlington
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Top DJ to visit nightspot
A TOP international disc jockey is to appear at a Darlington nightspot. Managers at Bojangles in Commercial Street, have decided to treat customers who attend the regular Thursday dance nights. Next Thursday, August 24, Jim Shaft Ryan will be making his
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women golf fans mark the millennium with a special snapshot
PAST and present members of the ladies' section at Bishop Auckland Golf Club turned out in force for a special photograph to mark the millennium. The ladies' section has been established for more than 75 years and the sport is proving as popular as ever
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Fundraiser adam, 12, robbed of wheelchair
A YOUNG disabled fundraiser has been left heartbroken after thieves made off with his wheelchair. Adam Bowers, 12, has cerebral palsy and cannot walk to the end of his street in Tow Law, County Durham, without suffering an asthma attack. His wheelchair
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Big time may be beckoning for Slowhand Mike
THE North-East's own Eric Clapton is hoping his popularity will spread beyond Scotch Corner after featuring in a TV documentary. Former surveyor Mike Hall, who packed in his business to concentrate full-time on Clapton tribute band After Midnight, was
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Criminals with drug problem to get help
DRUG users who commit crime to feed their habits are being offered treatment under a scheme launched yesterday, on Wearside. Sunderland Court and Arrest Referral Scheme aims to cut crimes caused by addicts who steal for cash to buy drugs. Northumbria
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Youngsters are kings of the castle in bid to educate all
YOUNGSTERS from rundown areas are sampling life at one of the North-East's most prestigious university colleges. The 36 children from some of Middlesbrough's most deprived areas are spending a week in Durham Castle, home to Durham University's University
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Bridge work on course
ENGINEERS may have to work throughout the night as part of an operation to restore the flood-hit Mercury Bridge, at Richmond. North Yorkshire County Council confirmed yesterday that a drilling rig may have to carry out night work to strengthen the bridge's
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Teenage robber snatches boy's bike
A TEENAGE robber punched a cyclist and rode off on his bike in the latest of a spate of thefts. But detectives have moved to dispel fears over the series of attacks which have occurred around Darlington since the start of the school holidays. The latest
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Father's anger over ball-game ban
YOUNGSTERS in Middlesbrough are fed up because they have been told they have nowhere to play ball games during the summer holidays. The children have been banned from playing games in Teesville following complaints by residents in Brunswick Avenue and
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Support group for carers is expanding
A SUPPORT group for carers is improving its service. The Sedgefield Locality Carers' Centre, in Newton Aycliffe, is opening a new drop-in centre. The facility, in the Pioneering Care Centre, Burn Lane, will be open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday,
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Joiner John switches teams for a premier job
JUST days before the start of a new football season, Sunderland-based businessman John Wilson is setting aside his Premier passions to complete a contract with arch rivals Newcastle United. For John's shopfitting and specialist joinery company has been
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Man denies attacks on
A MAN accused of assaulting his former girlfriend told a court yesterday that the alleged attacks simply did not happen. Gary Dalziell told a jury at Teesside Crown Court he knew nothing about April Akhtar's allegation that he assaulted her and smashed
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Group enjoys success at capital festival
DISABLED actors from north Durham have returned triumphant after taking the Edinburgh Festival by storm. Members of Derwentside theatre group Snug (Special Needs Utility Group), which has disabled and non-disabled actors, received acclaim for their eight
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Footprint put police on track of burglar
A BURGLAR was jailed yesterday after breaking into a couple's home as they slept upstairs. Michael Martin left a footprint on the window sill of the house in Carlton Moor Crescent, Darlington, in April last year. The footprint was matched to Martin's
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Outdoors base eyed by Scouts
AN abandoned base for outdoor activities could be given a new lease of life as a centre for Scouts on expedition. Ten temporary buildings making up the former ICI outdoor centre near Ingleby Greenhow were last used about seven years ago and are in a state
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Blueprint pointer to greener way of life
A GREEN strategy has been set out highlighting ways of making part of the North-East more environmentally friendly. A 44-page environmental blueprint, launched by Middlesbrough Borough Council, includes a radical aim of reducing the volume of cars travelling
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Tanfield e-project to create 500 jobs
A NEW venture using innovative technology to apply decorative images to mobile phones and other electronic products has been awarded a £100,000 Regional Selective Assistance grant by the DTI. Trade Minister Richard Caborn announced the RSA grant for E-comeleon
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Hospital attacked over son's death
THE MOTHER of a psychiatric patient who was found dead in a Darlington bedsit has criticised the care he received. David Lowery, 40, was found dead in bed in Greenbank Road, Darlington on Tuesday morning. Mr Lowery, who had a history of mental illness
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Highly-paid and badly behaved
THE Charity Shield is supposed to be the curtain-raiser for the new football season, a gentle preamble between last season's champions and cup winners to raise money for good causes and to prove that there's more to the modern game than just greed. Sunday's
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Name change protest forces rail firm U-turn
IT was like waving a red flag at a bull when rail company Northern Spirit suggested changing the name of Thornaby Station, Teesside, to Stockton Parkway. One resident and member of a family of railway workers even threatened to chain herself to a station
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Teacher cleared of assault
A TEACHER was cleared yesterday of indecently assaulting a girl pupil at the school where he taught. And as Michael Pendlington left the dock at Teesside Crown Court, the judge urged the school where he had worked for ten years to swiftly reinstate him
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Child services inspectors
INSPECTORS who keep an eye on Hartlepool youngsters have earned a vote of confidence. The Government's social services inspectorate watchdog announced 70 per cent of organisations in the town providing day care for children, aged under eight, were very
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Welcome to the wonderland parade
THE Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and the Cheshire cat will be taking over the streets of South Bank in Middlesbrough this weekend. The area's annual multi-cultural carnival will take place on Saturday, with charities, schools, businesses and residents
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Stadium work almost finished
SAFETY clearance for the 6,000-seat extension of Sunderland's Stadium of Light could be granted only hours before the new season kicks off on Saturday. Work has taken place throughout the close season, adding an extra tier to the north stand and north-west
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North-East firms urged to get involved with 2004 Olympics
REGIONAL development agency One NorthEast is spearheading a region-wide initiative to exploit business and supply chain opportunities for the Athens Olympics in 2004. A regional partnership including Gateshead Council, the North East Chamber of Commerce
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Abuse claims -unfounded'
AN investigation into alleged physical abuse at a nursing home has found the cruelty allegations to be unfounded. However, the investigating team did uncover evidence of verbal abuse to one resident at Priory Nursing Home, Hartlepool. The report by Tees
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The Cyber Space
IF THE controversial television game show Big Brother has got you interested in webcams, then why not visit some more people who have put themselves in the picture. Webcams can also let you experience places you have always wanted to visit with everywhere
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Shop sales calm inflation fears
Shop sales calm inflation fears INFLATION fears were further eased yesterday as official figures showed that high street sales remained flat last month. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that retail sales volumes in July were unchanged
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Brymon and AEEU sign agreement
THE Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union and Brymon Airways have signed a partnership agreement to represent all the airline's staff except pilots. Approximately 540 employees are likely to be covered. Following detailed discussions with a number
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Publican looks back for future
FOR years, drinkers said John Taylor's pub looked like an outpost of Beamish Museum. John filled the Beamish Mary Inn, at No Place, half a mile from the tourist attraction, with artefacts including valve radios and pit signs. But, after 12 years running
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Town's new pocket guide is unveiled
A POCKET-SIZED guide for visitors to Darlington was launched yesterday. Welcome to Darlington carries a detailed street map of the town centre and information about accommodation, shopping, places to eat, sports, leisure and events. A total of 10,000
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The Echo says...
NO one can deny that Oxford and Cambridge Universities discriminate against bright pupils from state schools. They may deny charges of elitism, but statistics prove their guilt. More than 70 per cent of the top A-level grades are obtained by state sector
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Ambrose lifts Windies from depths of despair
Curtly Ambrose wrote his name into cricketing record books with a devastating display to dig the West Indies out of a hole against England at Headingley. Ambrose dispatched Michael Atherton lbw yesterday to book his place in cricket's hall of fame as
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'Nasty Nick' is out
Nick Bateman went to ground last night after being kicked off Channel 4's Big Brother for cheating after nearly five weeks of scheming to win the £70,000 prize. The show took a dramatic twist as the ex-stockbroker - now a public hate figure for his back-stabbing
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Elliott bids for a regular role
Darlington's new midfielder Stuart Elliott is looking forward to playing regular first team football at Feethams, after making his eighth debut in his League career. Elliott, who is 23 at the end of this month, signed for Quakers a month ago from Newcastle
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Crime-fighting agency seeks more support from business
A CRIME-fighting charity yesterday appealed for help from the business community to continue the battle against criminals. Durham Agency Against Crime has worked tirelessly for the past ten years, challenging criminals at the grassroots level. But Chief
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280 jobs to go as firm announces closure
ANOTHER 280 jobs are to go from the North-East's beleaguered engineering sector after it was announced an award-winning company is to close. Ingersoll Dresser Pumps, which makes and designs pumps for the engineering industry, is to close before Christmas
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UK's -Celine' in festival line-up
THE singer hailed as Britain's answer to Celine Dion on a TV talent show has been lined up for a North-East festival. Karen McManus, 28, of Peterlee, County Durham, who appeared on BBC 1's Star For a Night in January, is one of five acts booked for the
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Seeking clues about great-grandfather who was employed at steelworks
A FAMILY is appealing to people on Teesside to turn detective to piece together a family history. Allison Balaam's great-grandfather was a steelworker and lived near Ormesby, Middlesbrough. Mrs Balaam, who lives near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, also has
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Flats project for town centre site
A BLOCK of 11 flats could be built in Darlington town centre if developers gain approval for the scheme. The project in Clark's Yard, between Skinnergate and High Row, makes use of temporary car parking space where buildings have stood in the past. A
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Meningitis baby hurt by Metro vandals
THUGS left baby Peter Knee showered with broken glass on his first trip out after recovering from meningitis. The baby overcame the illness, but when he left the house for the first time with his mother he was lucky to escape with his life a second time
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Three charged with murder
TWO men and a woman have been remanded in custody charged with the murder of 22-year-old North-East man Mark Marshall. Michael John Middlemiss, 22, is charged with murder, wounding with intent and perverting the course of justice. Nadine McDonald, 25,
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Barton's hope for better start
DUNCAN FERGUSON'S agent Dennis Roach last night rounded on Newcastle United over what he claims has been poor treatment of the Scottish striker. Ferguson's proposed return to Everton has foundered because Newcastle have refused to give him a pay-off for
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Magpies scuppered in move for Bellamy
NEWCASTLE United's hopes of beating Coventry in the chase for striker Craig Bellamy were scuppered by Duncan Ferguson's cash wrangle with the Magpies. Everton yesterday officially announced that Ferguson's £4m return to Goodison Park was off, while Bellamy
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Seven escape fire begun by child
A FAMILY has had to be re-housed after a devastating fire in a house with six children. A child caused the blaze by setting fire to a bedroom while playing with a lighter and could be referred to Cleveland Fire Brigade's special unit for youngsters who
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College pays for Kelly's tall ships trip
A STUDENT has been thrown a lifeline by her college to allow her to sail with the tall ships. A-level student Kelly Barwick, 17, of Billingham, will be setting sail with the Millennium Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race on Monday, despite her sponsorship efforts
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Big losers turn into winners for Christine
REDCAR is one of the best weight-losing areas in the country and a slimming club leader has been presented with an award to prove it. In the past three months, the members of Slimming World's Redcar East class have lost a total of 1,500lbs thanks to the
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Website is the place to visit to find out where to visit
A WEBSITE dedicated to Peterlee town centre is proving a roaring success. Since the first pages of the site went on-line late last month, about 4,500 Internet surfers have visited it. Freelance web designer Derick Scott designed the site as a hobby to
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Mock mobile off-licence provokes sobering thoughts
A MOCK mobile off-licence is being used to teach Teesside youngsters the perils of under-age drinking. Police took their stage-set off-licence on the road for the first time yesterday, visiting a community centre to dramatically illustrate to youngsters
