Archive
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Crash victim is named
A TEENAGER killed when his car hit a railway bridge has been named as David McKenzie. The 17-year-old, of Gilesgate, near Durham City, was certified dead at the scene by a police surgeon following yesterday's early-morning crash on the A690 dual-carriageway
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Victory for the people as secrecy
A NORTH-EAST council is to announce a U-turn over secrecy following a campaign by The Northern Echo for more open local government. Darlington Borough Council was accused of diluting democracy when it launched an experimental "cabinet-style" system last
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Festival celebrates art of disabled
A festival of artwork by the disabled is taking place across Teesside next week. The New Reality Festival has been organised by Cleveland Arts and Open Arts and disabled people throughout Teesside. The event has been funded by the Millennium Festival.
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Challenge issued to stadium protestors
PROTESTORS threatening legal action over Darlington's new football stadium have been warned to put up the cash for court action or accept defeat gracefully. The challenge came last night from the club's multi-millionaire chairman, George Reynolds, only
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Leek show produces a golden harvest
Norman Ellis took top prize with a leek measuring 237.67cubic inches at Sedgefield's Golden Lion Leek Show at the weekend. Eric Watt was second with 221.66 cu ins, followed by M McCarthy (145.52), P Dawson (139.65), J Colebrook (121.93) and D Theakston
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Yorkshire plea
Middlesbrough and Redcar should be split from the North-East and handed over to Yorkshire, a local councillor said yesterday. Redcar and Cleveland Borough councillor Chris Abbott said that if elected regional assemblies were created, the two areas should
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Sparkle returns to woman's life
A WOMAN who unwittingly lost her diamond ring on a garage forecourt is to be re-united with the sparkler. The unnamed woman, in her 30s, lost the engraved gold ring, encrusted with five diamonds, at the Fina garage, Chester Road, Stanley, County Durham
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Shopping centre workers take the plunge for charity
WHEN it comes to showing their friendship, the sky's the limit for one group of shopping centre staff. While many thought cleaner Winnie Midgley's plan to plunge 10,000ft from a plane was crazy, her colleagues at Middlesbrough's Cleveland Centre declared
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Cash injection boost for surgeries' staff
DOCTORS in Sunderland are being given extra NHS cash to help recruit more staff. Designed to improve primary health care standards for patients, £200,000 is being made available for support staff, allowing GPs to recruit more practice nurses, or extra
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Youngsters clean up in competition for tidy trophy
WHEN it comes to keeping their school tidy, young east Durham pupils have shown they are in a class on their own. As a reward for their efforts, the top tidiers at Yohden Primary School, in Horden, have been presented with a trophy. Each year, Easington
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Village post office where it is christmas every day
FATHER CHRISTMAS has come early to a village. And he will be staying all-year-round in a novel bid to boost business by postmistress Maxine Raine. The festive marathon is Maxine's way of hitting back at sceptics who say that business is dying in Weardale
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Teenager's quick-thinking
A TEENAGER'S quick-thinking saved a mother-of-two from her burning house. Chris Conlin, 14, kicked down the door of his neighbour's home in Costa Street, Middlesbrough, after spotting a door handle move and realising someone must be trapped inside. As
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North dinosaur expert leads
A NORTH-EAST dinosaur expert will broadcast to the world on a Disney website devoted to the giant creatures. As a manager for the national Geologists' Association, Jonathan Allinson is an old hand at exploring artefacts from the past. Having started out
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Animal sanctuary's waste plea
AN animal sanctuary is appealing for office waste to raise cash for its residents. Farplace Animal Rescue, in Westgate, County Durham, takes in unwanted creatures from all over Britain. The centre's staff, who are caring for 120 residents, have a policy
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Hopes high for river nightclub
A NIGHTCLUB boss is "confident" of gaining permission for a floating disco - despite concerns over its safety and hygiene. Absolute Leisure Ltd, the firm behind the River Tyne's disco ships, hopes to open the Tuxedo Royale, now at Middlesbrough's Middlehaven
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Radio links plea
BT Cellnet is seeking planning permission from Derwentside District Council to put up six antennae, two radio link dishes and an equipment cabin at the Pontop Pike transmitting station, Dipton, near Stanley.
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Chance to surf the net
THE Coatham Local Learning Centre, Redcar, has opened its doors for the first time. On Mondays, students can surf the Internet, from 9.30am to 11.30am and on Thursdays from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. There is also a food for fun and fitness course on a Mondays
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Partners mark ten years with a purpose
A PARTNERSHIP designed to solve community problems by bringing together key local players is celebrating its tenth anniversary. The Common Purpose initiative was set up on Teesside as an experiment in shaping the area's future. Made up of influential
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Tragic life of a tormented star
SO tragic was the life of Paula Yates that news of her death at only 41 somehow came as no real surprise. The tone of her life was set in an depressing and unstable childhood, when she felt unloved and unwanted by the man she had been led to believe was
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Cleared of rape claim
A man has been cleared of raping an 18-year-old girl at knifepoint after they went for a drive in the country. A jury at Teesside Crown Court took only five minutes to acquit Mark McKeown, 22, from Darlington, after hearing that the teenager wrote to
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Library's focus on military
MILITARY history is to be put under a brighter spotlight at Catterick Garrison library. The library is looking to raise interest in its military collection, which includes hundreds of books, covering subjects such as regimental histories, battles and
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Employment Service Direct
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Telesales, Darlington, 31hrs pw, required for health club, must have good telephone manner, no cold calling. Ref: DAE 23633. Cook/housekeeper, Spennymoor
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Study success
COUNCILLORS have given a young employee top marks for academic success. Emma Russell, has combined working as a modern apprentice for Spennymoor Town Council with studying for an HNC in business at Bishop Auckland College. The council congratulated her
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Man grew cannabis to treat migraine
A CHEMICAL engineering graduate turned to growing cannabis to solve his problems with migraine and insomnia, a court heard. The Phd student downloaded information from the Internet to discover how to grow the plant having tried in vain to get tablets
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Unlucky break
Skiffle legend Lonnie Donegan has been forced to postone a North-East gig after breaking his toe. His Friday night appearance at the Arc, in Stockton, has been postponed until November 15, at 7.30pm, as he will be unable to travel for a few weeks. Ticket
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Fans' Forum - Hartlepool v Macclesfield
BLockade the Vic , hold a public inquiry, this was a scandal. Pools should have been 6-0 up before the Silkmen scored. Domination for 70 minutes, defence solid, chances created, Shilton scores wonder goal and then we sit back, start making substitutions
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Get free space
THERE might not be such thing as a free lunch but there is certainly such a thing as free web space. Most people get some web pages as part of the deal with their Internet Service Provider such as BT or Freeserve and there are plenty of suppliers online
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Employment Service Direct
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Sewing machinist, Billingham. £3.85ph, 38.5hrs pw, 8am to 5pm, Mon-Thurs, 1pm finish Fri. Must have basic maths skills, experience preferred. Ref: BIG
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Engineering trainees intake
YOUNGSTERS are continuing the strong tradition of engineering apprenticeships in the area. An intake of 120 apprentices has joined more than 300 other trainees at training organisation TTE's sites at South Bank and Wilton International, on Teesside. The
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Man ordered to stay away from ex-wife
A COUNTY Durham man was ordered not to approach his former wife by a judge yesterday. David Howdle appeared before Teesside Crown Court and admitted harassment of his former wife between October 1998 and August last year. Yesterday, Howdle, 40, of Woodside
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Disney web success for Stockton man
A DINOSAUR expert will broadcast to the world on a Disney website devoted to the giant creatures. As a manager for the national Geologists' Association, Jonathan Allinson is an old hand at exploring artefacts from the past. Having started out examining
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Car crackdown being launched tonight
THE region's police forces will tonight launch the biggest ever crackdown on vehicle crime seen in the north. Operation Outlaw is aimed at catching the organised criminals responsible for more than 60,000 vehicle thefts or break-ins last year. The Durham
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Hunt for black bin robbers
ROBBERS filled a dustbin with cash after holding-up an off licence. The two masked men threatened a woman assistant at Victoria Wines, on the Marden Estate, Cullercoats, North Tyneside. They then stashed the money in a black bin and ran off towards the
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Become an e-millionaire
Anyone can become an e-millionaire and you don't need any business sense to manage it. The number of online competitions, draws and quizzes increases daily on the Internet and all you have to do is log on. The most high-profile of the sites must be the
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Having a say on council services
ETHNIC communities in one part of the North-East have been given the opportunity to voice their views on the quality of council services. As part of its drive to ensure best value for council tax payers, Darlington Borough Council organised a consultation
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Getting on track online
TRAIN enthusiasts may have plenty of web space devoted to their needs but the North-East's own achievements in rail history have been somewhat neglected - until now. In an attempt to put the Stockton & Darlington Railway back on the world stage where
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Assaults denied
A NORTH-EAST man went on trial yesterday accused of indecently assaulting two young boys. Edward Dobson is alleged to have indecently touched the boys last year. But Mr Dobson told police that the only physical contact between them had been when one of
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Drunk falls on to railway line
A DRUNKEN man was recovering in hospital yesterday after falling down a 25ft railway embankment. The incident happened at 8.20pm on Sunday, when the man, from Hartlepool, fell from a wall in the town's Lancaster Road, to the railway line below. Police
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Happy Birthday to the Queen Mum
IF YOU want to join in the celebrations for the Queen Mother's 100th birthday but your invitation was held up in the post the Internet is the place for you today. There are thousands of websites claiming some sort of connection to the Queen Mum - although
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Three years' probation on sex charges
A MAN who admitted three offences of indecent assault on a girl was put on probation for three years yesterday. John Ryan, 45, of Park Avenue, Teesville, near Redcar, east Cleveland, appeared before Teesside Crown Court. Sentencing, Judge Richard Lowden
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Youngsters show their bowls skills
PUPILS from a Darlington school found they had a talent for bowls when they tried it during the summer holidays. The Hundens Green Bowling Association teamed up with Darlington Borough Council to offer children from Eastbourne Comprehensive School the
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Racing car driver is recovering from crash
A MOTOR racing driver is recovering after crashing his classic car during a race at the weekend. Nigel Corner, 35, from Leyburn, in North Yorkshire, told hospital staff he has been overwhelmed by the support he has received from family, friends and the
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Employment Service Direct
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. MOT tester/mechanic, Murton. £4ph, 40hrs pw. Must be experienced with relevant test certificate available to employer. Ref: SHE 3948. Aluminium fabricator
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Teesdale fans Olympic tale of Melbourne glory
When last they ran around Australia with the Olympic flame, Joe Teesdale was the bright spark who got in for nothing. They were, he concedes, very different days. It was Melbourne, November 22 1956. Joe, Coundon lad, had sailed from Southampton, stayed
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Show spreading a serious message
TEENAGE issues including drugs and alcohol abuse, bullying, sex and racism, are being tackled in a series of presentations by Darlington pupils. As part of the PS2K (Peer Support 2000) initiative, the group of 11 to 16-year olds spoke to representatives
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Long route to rescue for lost walkers
AN eight-hour search ended in the rescue of two walkers who got lost. But the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue team, in County Durham, says the walkers might have been rescued quicker simply by dialling 999 to contact them directly. The team, based
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Workers angry over shift pattern change
HUNDREDS of maintenance technicians at car producer Nissan have signed a letter detailing grievances at the 24-hour shift patterns being introduced at the site. About 260 staff have supported the call to highlight the problems they see will be the result
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Top artist returns
ONE of the region's top artists will be returning home later this month to give a talk on his work. Eric Atkinson, who was born in West Hartlepool, will be speaking at the town's art gallery in Church Square on Tuesday, September 26. Mr Atkinson has lived
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Landlords face unruly tenants crackdown
THE Government is planning to crack down on landlords who allow tenants to cause mayhem. A growing number of private tenants, often evicted from council houses, are bringing misery to once-respectable streets. Drug dealing, violence and "neighbour from
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Service for hospice
People are invited to join an ecumenical service celebrating the work of the region's only children's hospice, the Butterwick Children's Hospice, in Stockton. The Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Michael Turnbull, will give the address at the service
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A brief encounter with waiting room history as tiles are uncovered
WORKERS restoring a railway station lounge have uncovered Victorian wall tiles worth an estimated £3.5m beneath layers of paint and concrete. The find has been hailed as the best Burmantofts tiling outside a museum. The panels were installed in 1895 under
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£1m sought to extend anti-crime scheme
Councillors hope to secure £1m to extend a successful anti-crime pilot scheme. The process of alleygating, in which burglars' thoroughfares are blocked off, was first introduced in the Gresham area of Middlesbrough several months ago. Since then, a survey
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Story session on autumn ramble
YOUNGSTERS with an appetite for nature are being urged to sign up for a story-telling walk. The autumn ramble - which takes place at Lingfield Farm, in Coulby Newham, near Middlesbrough, from 1.30pm to 4pm, on Saturday, September 30 - will be led by the
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Hospital colleagues say hostess is -unsung hero'
CHEERY Linda Aryratna is just what the doctor ordered. The big-hearted 49-year-old has been nominated for an award by colleagues at Middlesbrough General Hospital, where she is ward hostess on the spinal injuries unit and orthopaedic ward. Staff put Linda's
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Police hunt raiders who attacked worker
TWO masked robbers who attacked a post office worker are being hunted by police in Gateshead. The men, armed with an iron bar and a large spanner, forced their way into a secure area at Rowlands Gill Post Office and attacked the 56-year-old member of
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Bright future predicted at regeneration scheme launch
WORK got under way yesterday on a £30m regeneration scheme designed to bring a prosperous future to an east Durham seaside town. For almost a decade, Seaham has struggled to recover from the closure of its mines. Thousands were thrown out of work when
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Top horse
One of Britain's greatest horses is to be honoured at Redcar Races on Friday, in the Double Trigger Maiden Stakes race. Double Trigger broke the track record for a two-year-old over nine furlongs in 1993. Racing starts at 2.10pm.
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An alternative day out
THE chance to have an Indian head massage, crystal healing, or a reading of your aura photograph are just some of the opportunities at a Healthy Living Fair coming to Teesside. The Vitality 2000 event will be at Pinchinthorpe Hall, on the A173 between
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Nine accused
A GROUP of nine people accused of taking part in the kidnap of a nine-year-old child appeared before Sunderland magistrates yesterday. David Alexander, 33, and Jane Alexander, 35, both of Vanguard Court, Doxford Park, Sunderland, are both charged with
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Exhibition with a taste of sporting life
A collection of sporting prints and memorabilia has been donated for an exhibition at an auction centre. The Mezzanine Gallery at Tennants, in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, will be hung with an exhibition of oil paintings, watercolours, prints and bronzes
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Nissan pointer
THIS dramatic-looking saloon could be the shape of things to come at Nissan's award-winning factory in Sunderland. The Nissan Fusion concept car gives some clues as the what the new Primera family car will look like in a few years time. Company bosses
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Tea garden leaves kids delighted
A NEW tea garden in Hartlepool was given a special seal of approval - by some of the town's youngsters. The tea service has been started by the Friends of Rossmere Park. It will be provided from a new building, which has been built in the park using money
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Pool left on the spot after late, late blow
THERE was a sense of bewilderment at Victoria Park on Saturday. A 2-2 draw with Macclesfield left Hartlepool still looking for their first home league win of the season and their first on home territory since beating Mansfield on April 22. Yet during
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Sacrifice of the few marked
SERVICES were held across the North-East yesterday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Pilots from the region were among The Few who held off the might of Hitler's Luftwaffe in 1940, and current and former airmen joined to remember
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Ghostly goings-on in the vestry
I THINK we have a ghost in St Michael's church. I was phoned up the other week by the secretary of Zion College, an old theological library near the City Temple. The secretary said: "I've a large photograph of one of your predecessors. Do you want to
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Aid volunteers scrap plans for hunger strike
TWO North-East men have called off plans for a hunger strike in Romania. Rod Jones, 52, and Stephen Groves, 28, threatened the authorities in that country with starving themselves if they were not allowed access to a children's orphanage where they were
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Royal collector bids for record status
FERVENT monarchist Anita Atkinson was amazed when the full extent of her passion was revealed. Anita, a magistrate and school governor from Harperley, near Crook, County Durham, spent the weekend with a team of helpers cataloguing and counting her collection
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Friday's child is full of fun
LAST Thursday we lunched at TGI Friday's, an even longer weekend than usual. The chain's first link was forged in New York in 1965 by an unmarried perfume salesman anxious to attract singles - the career crowd, he said. When someone last counted there
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Guide draws
A guide to healthy living in Stockton has been published by the Health Action Zone. The booklet gives a ward by ward profile of health and well- being in Stockton, including the location and maps of community and resource centres, sports centres, pharmacies
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Tragic life of a tormented star
SO tragic was the life of Paula Yates that news of her death at only 41 somehow came as no real surprise. The tone of her life was set in an depressing and unstable childhood, when she felt unloved and unwanted by the man she had been led to believe was
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Reminder of pit past rehoused
A PIECE of a former pit village's history has been given a new home. Thornley's NUM Greenwood banner has been repaired and put on display at Youll House, headquarters of Age Concern Thornley. The banner was made in 1947 to celebrate the Greenwood Homes
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Super Kevs help ease the pressure
JITTERY Sunderland even had the scoreboard operator pressing the wrong buttons - Derby striker Deon Burton was briefly credited with a goal for a shot which struck the side netting. But it all worked out in the end as Peter Reid's men weathered an early
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Put yourself in the picture
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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Tourist info centre opens all week
SUNDERLAND'S tourist information centre is now open throughout the week following the introduction of Sunday trading. The move comes in the wake of last week's opening of the multi-million pound extension to the city's Bridges shopping complex. The centre's
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Drugs case man given five years
A FATHER was jailed for five years yesterday after police discovered cocaine and cannabis in his home. John Jobson denied any knowledge of the drugs when he was interviewed by the police. But yesterday, Jobson, 42, of Berwood Close, Stockton, appeared
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Vicious attack prompts plea
Witnesses are being sought by police following a vicious attack. The victim was chased by up to 12 men, all wielding weapons, at about 11.30am on Saturday. Some of them were driving cars, one of which was used to knock the victim to the ground at the
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Guard attacked at garage forecourt
A SECURITY guard needed hospital treatment after being attacked while collecting cash from a service station. Two men hit the guard on the arm with a weapon and snatched a black security box outside Wrekenton Service Station, Gateshead, at 11.05pm yesterday
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Employment Service Direct
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. RGN/SEN, Richmond. Approx 20hrs pw, days on rota. Required for nursing home. Must have relevant qualification. Experience essential. Ref: RID 13280.
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Steve pedals to medals victory
CYCLIST Steve Davis has proved that some people do improve with age. The 48-year-old account executive, from Darlington, won silver and bronze medals in the World Masters Track Championships, at the Velodrome in Manchester. Racing against the world's
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Luckless Nogan stars for Quakers
WHEN you're a manager in your first season and lose two successive games in a week after a promising start, it would be easy to panic. Not Gary Bennett. The Darlington boss has faith in his side and believes they can be successful this season. Blind faith
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Worries over industrial estate decline
CONCERN is growing at the rapid decline in the number of people employed on industrial estates in the Sedgefield borough. Figures from Sedgefield Borough Council show that employment on the industrial estates has dropped by more than 700 in two years.
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Health help online
A LOT of people find the Internet an invaluable resource tool when it comes to getting information about health matters. Everything from the latest scientific research projects to support groups and organisations can be found online. The only drawback
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Surprise bundles mean ewe are a lucky girl
A SURPRISE delivery has delighted pupils and staff at a college science department. A ewe, which belongs to Sedgefield Community College, has given birth to two lambs - a very rare occurrence for September. And the happy event has won a reprieve for the
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Scandals pave way for GMC reforms
RADICAL reform is on the way for the much-criticised General Medical Council in the wake of scandals such as that involving disgraced surgeon Richard Neale. The GMC's dual role as prosecutor and judge of bad doctors is to be scrapped following an internal
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Internet success for Magpies fan
A NEWCASTLE United fan has joined the big league with his own Internet website. Kevin Fletcher's fan site, www.TalkoftheTyne.com, has been chosen to appear on a European Internet sports network, Rivals.net Rivals.net includes more than 300 independent
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£1.1m to halt decline of historic burial ground
A £1.1m facelift is being planned to turn a vandal-hit cemetery into a colourful attraction for visitors. A bid will be made for £700,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help revamp Linthorpe Cemetery, the largest area of woodland in Middlesbrough.
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Economic boost at former microchip plant
GOVERNMENT ministers, MPs and development bosses joined forces today to herald the rejuvenation of the former Siemens factory on Tyneside as a "tremendous boost to the local economy". Around 1500 new jobs are set to be created at the microchip factory
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Hi-tech way to beat the tree thieves
A COUNCIL is using microchips to dig the dirt on thieves who steal its trees and shrubs. Spennymoor Town Council has been left counting the cost of various thefts in recent years. It is now planning to buy devices known as Datatags, which can help to
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Holiday doctor service
PATIENTS in Sunderland will soon be able to benefit from an out-of-hours GP service every bank holiday, following a successful pilot scheme last month. The trial service, held on Bank Holiday Monday, August 28, gave patients needing emergency medical
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Last chance to own a piece of football history
FOOTBALL fans will be given a final opportunity to help two Darlington charities and win a piece of Britain's football heritage tonight. Two pieces of Wembley Stadium's turf will be raffled when Darlington Football Club take on Premiership side Bradford
