Archive
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Minister gives pledge to aid crime victims
HOME Office Minister Paul Boateng has pledged new measures to help victims of violent or sexual crimes in the wake of schoolgirl Sarah Payne's murder. The proposals will pave the way for more information about known violent or sex offenders to be made
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Fireworks raiders -dicing with their life and limbs'
THIEVES are being urged to surrender a lethal haul of stolen fireworks - before someone is maimed or killed. Concerned pyrotechnician Jitu Desai is appealing to crooks who stole between 30 and 40 boxes of professional fireworks, destined for organised
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Wall collapse victim named
A MAN crushed to death when a wall fell on him was named yesterday. James Loughran, 63, of Burnopfield, Derwentside, was laying paving stones in the backyard of a relative's home when a wall collapsed and pinned him against a parked car. Mr Loughran was
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Council chief tops PM for pay
SUNDERLAND City Council chief executive Colin Sinclair earned more than Prime Minister Tony Blair last year, according to new figures. A report to the council's ruling cabinet for the financial year 1999 to 2000 showed that Mr Sinclair earned between
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Grieving mother quashes rumour
RUMOURS that a young playmate was involved in the drowning of five-year-old Tony Faulkner were last night quashed by the dead boy's mother. Devastated Donna Young, 21, paid tribute to her son, who plunged from a pier into the North Sea at Seaham, County
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Buy now - Merse
TEESSIDE hate figure Paul Merson delivered a damning verdict on Middlesbrough's defence and predicted a season of struggle for his old club unless manager Bryan Robson acts now to strengthen his rearguard. Robson plans to do just that and is awaiting
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Boksic fury as Boro struggle
THE PENT-UP fury and frustration finally erupted as Alen Boksic made his way out of the Riverside Stadium. In words not suitable for a family newspaper, the Croatian striker cursed and slammed his fist down on a nearby table. His body language during
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Showcase for landscape art's people portrait
AN artist who returned to his North-East home after being struck down by a spinal tumour is putting on an exhibition of work reflecting one of the region's valleys. Duncan Smith has 44 works on show at Killhope North of England Lead Mining Museum, in
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Carer's dedication earns him a job
A CARER who looked after his ill father for five years is dedicating the rest of his life to helping others. James Beckett, 50, of Porlock Road, Billingham, set aside his career as a furniture restorer to look after his father, who suffered from dementia
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Patrons sought for historic festival
FESTIVAL organisers are appealing for patrons to help support their ambitious plans to celebrate a major milestone for their town. Next year's Bedale 750 will be a high-profile jamboree to mark the 750th anniversary of the granting of the town's market
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Bank workers win praise for charity effort
A GROUP of bank workers has received an award in recognition of its fundraising efforts. Since the start of 1998, St Teresa's Hospice, in Darlington, has been one of the main charities supported by staff at Barclays' Darlington and the Dales branches.
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Tenders call for Scout hall renovation
REPAIRS are needed to a boiler to make sure Scouts do not go cold this winter. Newton Aycliffe Scout Supporters' Association is inviting tenders for repairs to the Scout Centre, in Bluebell Way, which is 22-years-old. As well as supporting Scouting activities
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Microchip solution to horses problem
HIGH-TECH wizardry is to be used in a pioneering pilot project to solve an equine problem which has plagued the region for years. The North-East has one of the worst reputations in the country for its tethered horses. Countless animals are left in fields
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Cabinet prepares to open doors to public
MEMBERS of the public are just one step away from being allowed into council cabinet meetings in Darlington for the first time. Darlington Borough Council was accused of diluting democracy when it introduced a closed-door cabinet style system of local
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Marks and Spencer shop closure fears
FEARS have emerged for the future of Marks and Spencer stores as the company considers a property shake-up. The group has confirmed it is looking at the closure of some stores, but last night stressed no decisions have been taken. The review comes as
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Arrogance before a fall
THESE are tortuous times for Tony Blair and his Government. Under seige from fuel tax protestors, under attack for the Millennium Dome, and under pressure from pensioners, Labour is now trailing the Conservatives in opinion pools. At the beginning of
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Smash and grab rescue of car babies
FIREFIGHTERS prevented a possible tragedy after two babies were locked in a car. The girls, aged seven months and 15 months, became trapped inside a Peugeot 205 in the Asda carpark at South Bank, Middlesbrough, after its female driver accidentally locked
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Never forget the Angels
IF IT weren't for the nightly fog that engulfed Aycliffe and prevented German bombers pinpointing the munitions factory, that area of County Durham may look very different today. For night after night bombs dropped all around but, thanks to the mist,
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Collection charge in line for district
HOUSEHOLDERS in Derwentside could be charged up to £20 to have old furniture and unwanted large appliances taken away. At present, the district council's refuse collectors remove bulky household waste and take it to local tips for nothing. Councillors
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runaway bus sends car crashing through wall
A RUNAWAY bus caused damage to four cars and shunted one into a house after it was used in a hit-and run-in the early hours of yesterday. The incident happened at about 1am, in St Ann's Terrace, Portrack, Stockton. It is believed the single-decker bus
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Former Echo features writer dies at 80
A FORMER features writer for The Northern Echo has died, aged 80. Ken Calcutt joined the newspaper in 1964 after a distinguished career in the armed forces. He stayed for 20 years. Born in Normanton, West Yorkshire, Mr Calcutt was a commissioned officer
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Brigade's letterhead costs may shoot up
CLEVELAND Fire Authority may approve a new letterhead design, costing more than five times the existing one. At a meeting on Friday, the authority is expected to approve a letterhead for the fire brigade incorporating its recent Charter Mark and Investors
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Cubs' planting efforts win council praise
A SCOUT group has been thanked for going out of its way to help care for their area. Stockton Borough Council has expressed gratitude to the group of eight to ten year-olds, from the 1st Kirklevington Cubs, who set about planting more than 1,000 daffodil
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Work to start on new cycleway
WORK on a new cycleway in Newton Aycliffe is due to start at the end of next month. The route will eventually link the Oak Leaf Leisure Centre and railway station to the town centre and industrial estate, via a cycle network. The initiative will start
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A taste of Egypt for students
ARTIST Romey Chaffer played "mummy" to a group of creative young people to help them to put together an exhibition on an Egyptian theme. The group of 18 youngsters, each with learning difficulties, used the inspiration of Egyptian artefacts on display
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Artist draws on rail first
AN artist has recreated the scene of the first passenger train arriving in Stockton in 1825, to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Stockton Borough Council's museums and heritage service asked Stockton-born Paul Duckers
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Pilot's dream grounded by lack of cash.
A MAN who has harboured an ambition to fly a jumbo jet for more than 35 years is a step closer to his dream. Mark McManus, has spent more than £25,000 to date on financing his dream to fly a Boeing 747. He has sold his car and given up his job so that
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Home of the Three Ps
LIKE the rat, say, this column is naturally gregarious. Just occasionally, however, pressure of time and space - in which the hymn reminds us we are dwellers all - dictates a table for one. Thus last Thursday lunchtime, armed with that day's Echo, the
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Website focuses on the new subject of citizenship
Teachers are being offered some online help with citizenship teaching thanks to a web service from Schoolsnet.com. from today. The subject is being taught in schools for the first time this term and covers a variety of issues that have previously been
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Student Matthew's an A star
A STUDENT is celebrating after learning that one of his A-level results was one of the best in the country. Matthew Ross, from Stillington, near Darlington, received straight As in French, English literature, music and general studies following two years
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Reid hands Dichio chance to impress at Luton
SUNDERLAND striker Danny Dichio will try to shoot his way into Premiership contention in tonight's Worthington Cup second round second leg tie at Luton. The 25-year-old former England Under-21 international goes into his first senior game of the season
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Denise digs deep to become golden girl
Denise Lewis helped make it a double golden day for Britain's Olympics team in Sydney yesterday Lewis, 28, shrugged off a nagging calf injury to claim our fifth gold medal of the championships in the heptathlon. Earlier yesterday, Britain won gold for
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Hopes are pinned
A NORTH Durham community is holding its breath for confirmation of a £4.5m Lottery grant to build a long-awaited swimming pool. Derwentside District Council has submitted a fourth set of architectural designs for a swimming pool at Stanley's Louisa Centre
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Sorensen super save earns point
ALL EYES at Anfield were on England rivals Michael Owen and Kevin Phillips, who both duly demonstrated their goal-scoring credentials. But it was Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen who stole the show with a superb point-winning performance, capped
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Turner fury as Pool
LAST week Hartlepool United bewildered their fans as they threw away a two-goal advantage. This time, they somehow managed to do even worse to turn a 3-1 advantage into a 4-3 defeat. And after this heartache don't be surprised to see a steady stream of
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Lap dance claim of ex-star in drugs case
FORMER Scottish football international Frank McAvennie was on his way to a lap dancing club when he was arrested in a £110,000 drugs raid, a court heard yesterday. When police swooped on a Peugeot car in Newcastle city centre they found him and a friend
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Sprinter supreme is long forgotten hero
Fleeting reference, no more, last Tuesday's column touched in under ten seconds upon William Reuben Applegarth, Guisborough lad and Olympic gold medallist. Were it not for Stewart Clarke he'd thereafter have been re-interred, just as his memory has been
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Quakers' schoolboy errors anger Bennett
A three-goal burst in the first nine minutes killed off Darlington's hopes of a Worthington Cup shock at Valley Parade last night. But Quakers, who made six changes to the team which drew with Macclesfield on Friday, left Valley Parade with their honour
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Shearer sets new goal for Magpies
BOBBY Robson is too wily and too wise to panic, but he knows he has problems at the moment. Not only are his side going through a bad patch with two successive league defeats against teams they should beat, Southampton and now Charlton. But then there's
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Quakers look for cup glory
DARLINGTON manager Gary Bennett is backing his players for another cup shock when they go to Bradford City tonight. Quakers head for West Yorkshire a goal down after last week's first leg, but Bennett believes his side are capable of pulling off another
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Hospice has its cake and eats it
STAFF, carers and children at the Butterwick Hospice are celebrating the home's second birthday this week. At the weekend there was an Ecumenical Awareness and Thanksgiving Service at the Oakwood Centre, at Eagles-cliffe, on Teesside. The address was
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High profile for heritage -oasis'
A PROJECT to promote an oasis of natural heritage has been launched in the region. The Coatham and South Gare Heritage project was set up after consultations with local people to determine the future of an area from Redcar to the mouth of the Tees. The
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Drink and drug tests proposal for firefighters
ROOKIE firefighters could be subjected to drug and alcohol testing before they are allowed to join a North-East brigade. The new tests would also be used after accidents at work and if an individual was suspected of drinking or taking drugs on duty. Cleveland
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Outrage as graves targeted by thugs
VANDALS who went on the rampage in a churchyard at the weekend have desecrated dozens of graves. Among final resting places wrecked by the mindless thugs was the grave of a young leukaemia victim. The attack, believed to have been carried out by drunken
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Curb put on charity shop thieves
VOLUNTEER store detectives have helped to cut thefts from a North-East charity shop. Oxfam bosses made a plea for help after its branch in Front Street, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was repeatedly targeted by crooks. The charity, which raises funds
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Victory in sight for justice campaign
THE Government is on the verge of changing the law to make it possible for someone to be tried twice for the same offence, a senior Home Office advisor has revealed. Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, a former senior policeman from the region, told The Northern
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Apology over loo scare
DARLINGTON Borough Council has apologised after an elderly woman was startled by a toilet attendant in the town centre. The woman, who has not been named, had not realised the toilets in the Covered Market were being maintained by a male council worker
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Fresh shot in charity shops battle
BUSINESS leaders are preparing to step up their campaign against the number of charity shops in a market town. Members of Thirsk Chamber of Trade are planning to take action after learning that another charity organisation was poised to set up a business
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Fire training building
COUNTY Durham firefighters have a new high-tech training building. The Hot Fire building has been built at the County Durham and Darlington brigade's headquarters in Framwellgate Moor, Durham City, and is one of only two in the country. It will enable
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Campaigners praise justice fight
THE Northern Echo launched its Criminal Injustice campaign last year after discovering the shocking neglect of innocent families whose lives are devastated by violent crime. We learned there are more than 50 organisations that exist to help the criminal
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Five workers hurt in crash
A ROAD crash cast a shadow over one of the region's biggest agricultural shows at the weekend. Five catering workers were injured in the accident, which happened at a road junction while they were travelling to Stokesley Show, in North Yorkshire. Four
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Free speech pushed to the limits
'SMILE at us, pay us, pass us, but do not quite forget, For we are the people of England, that never has spoken yet." So said that great Englishman GK Chesterton in his poem The Secret People. Well, GK we have spoken now and there is no doubt about what
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You can build a career and be a good mum
A new book which claims to be a survival guide for working mums gives realistic advice on how to successfully juggle domestic and professional life. Author and mother Lindsay Cook reveals the winning formula to GABRIELLE FAGAN AUTHOR Lindsay Cook would
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Freshers hit record numbers
A RECORD number of students have started the new term at one of the region's universities. More than 600 students were welcomed to the University of Durham's Stockton Campus at a matriculation ceremony in Stockton Parish Church yesterday. The vice-chancellor
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What are we going to do about Maria?
AT THE age of 11, Maria Jago is already displaying a swimming talent that may one day have her going for gold. Last weekend she achieved four personal bests when she competed at the Sheffield Teaspoons Gala with her team, the Wear Valley Amateur Swimming
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Finnish visitors given tour of the Riverside
FINNISH schoolchildren took in the sights of one of the region's premier soccer centres during a trip to Teesside. The party of youngsters visited Middlesbrough Football Club's Riverside Stadium during a whistle-stop tour of the area. During the trip,
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Winter health
Measures to avoid a winter health crisis in Darlington and South-West Durham are being introduced by South Durham Health Care NHS Trust. The trust has been working with its health and social care partners in County Durham and Darlington to develop plans
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Project aims to engineer an interest in industry
THE tricky task of decommissioning a nuclear power plant is being tackled by more than 90 students in a project aimed at attracting young engineers. Members of Derwentside Engineering Forum are working with youngsters aged 14 to 15, from Blackfyne, Stanley
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Brown vows no 'spending sprees'
Chancellor Gordon Brown said today he would not be be forced into panic pension increases and fuel tax cuts the country cannot afford. He said the Government would not take short term taxation decisions on "wildly fluctuating" world oil prices - neither
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Would-be jumbo jet pilot who can't get career off the ground
A WOULD-BE pilot who has sold everything in a bid to land a job flying jumbo jets, will see his hopes dashed unless he finds another £6,500 by November. Mark McManus has already spent more than £25,000 to finance his dream. He has sold his car, and he
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Developing a taste for good grub
HEALTH workers have been dishing up plenty of food for thought. Dieticians Fiona Taylor and Andrea Bryan are spearheading a Teesside Health Action Zone drive to encourage people living on a budget to eat healthily. The latest in a series of Good Grub
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Information packs boost for disabled
AN information pack has been launched in Middlesbrough to help people with disabilities get around. The Break Free pack, produced by Middlesbrough Borough Council, describes five sites in the town, including Newham Grange Leisure Farm, Pallister Park,
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Cook calls for Lancet cost aid
AN MP has called on the Government to contribute to the increasing bill for the Operation Lancet inquiry, set up to investigate corruption in the Cleveland police force. Stockton North MP Frank Cook has backed efforts to persuade the Government to finance
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Olympic gold for Jonathan
North-East triple jumper Jonathan Edwards took the gold in Sydney today. And his success means Britain has achieved it's best gold medal haul at a games since the 1956 Olumpics in Melbourne. Edwards,34, who had to settle for a silver medal in Atlanta,
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Man jailed for import of cannabis
THE man behind the import of a large amount of drugs into the North-East was jailed for 12 years yesterday. Charles Moore was responsible for bringing cannabis with a street value of £300,000 from Holland last July. It was found in two vehicles being
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Walkway plans get cautious welcome
BUS company bosses gave cautious backing to town centre pedestrianisation plans yesterday. The man behind them said he wanted them to take effect so that environmental improvements totalling £7m can be started. The scheme came closer to realisation when
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Dabizas blasts suggestions
NEWCASTLE United defender Nikos Dabizas last night blasted suggestions that he could be out for the rest of the season. The Greek international has instead set a March deadline for a comeback after undergoing an operation to cure his troublesome cruciate
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Labour activist denies charges
A leading Labour Party activist and friend of Tony Blair denied a string of sex charges against teenage boys when he appeared in court yesterday. Martin Locklin, 40, pleaded not guilty to six allegations of indecent assault, two of rape and one of serious
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Waterstons is first tenant at new Belmont Business Park
NORTH-East IT firm Waterstons has reaffirmed its faith in Durham as a business location by becoming the first company to move to one of the county's newest business parks. With help from County Durham Development Company (CDDC) and Durham County Council
