Archive
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Pensioners to receive advice on safety
A SCHEME that gives safety advice to Sunderland school-children is being extended to pensioners. The city's Zone Rangers Challenge has given important messages in a fun way to thousands of youngsters. Today, the scheme will be extended to older people
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Decision day for suspended doc
EMBATTLED hospital chiefs met in secret last night to consider the fate of a consultant accused of having an improper relationship with a patient. Gynaecologist Neil Hebblethwaite could face disciplinary action after he was criticised in an internal report
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Betty and Fred share golden joy
A COUPLE'S 50th anniversary celebrations provided a tonic for patients of a South Durham doctors' practice. All the friends and relations who shared Betty and Fred Stocker's golden day at the weekend were asked not to buy gifts, but to contribute to a
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Woman in court over driver stand-off
A WOMAN brought traffic to a standstill when she refused to give way to a bus in Darlington town centre. Joan Inskipp, 36, of North Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty, at Sedgefield Magistrates' Court, to obstructing the highway . Magistrates heard that
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Quakers
THE Darlington football stadium saga took another twist yesterday when the club parted company with the main contractors. Quakers supremo George Reynolds announced that construction firm Taylor Woodrow will no longer be building the new £15m stadium on
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Boost for disabled
DISABLED visitors will be able to get around a wildlife haven more easily thanks to Durham Freemasons. The organisation has donated £750 for an electric wheelchair at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), Washington. Centre manager Chris Francis said
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Bigamy? Three wives were 'just a mistake'
A FATHER-OF-SIX charged with bigamy came face-to-face in court yesterday with the three women he married. Former guest house manager Robert Hutchings, 53, married and divorced Jean Thomson, then wed teenage student Samantha Bone, while he was still married
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Care scheme aims to open doors in the workplace
A PIONEERING scheme to fill an important gap in the jobs market has been unveiled by council chiefs. North Yorkshire County Council's County Care business unit, Supported Employment Services, in partnership with Richmond School and the local day service
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Work calls halt to chances of glory in Stockholm Olympics
Ever industrious, Friday's column wondered about the Olympic athlete who missed the final because he had to be back at work. It was Stockholm, 1912. Diligent subsequent research - by others, of course - suggests that Durham's only athlete in those or
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Traders voice fears over BT site
TRADERS have expressed fears for their future amid rumours that a threatened depot could be transformed into a major retail park. Business leaders in Northallerton are concerned that BT is planning to close its depot in the town and sell the site to developers
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Army members prepare to march back into town
THE Salvation Army is taking a step towards re-establishing itself in Northallerton at the weekend. Alan and Carol Young, who have moved to the town from Ripon have issued an invitation for people to go to a meeting explaining the group's work, at Red
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Website earns top marks
A LOCAL authority's education website has been awarded national praise for the services it provides. The lifelong learning site developed by North Yorkshire County Council has been given the UK Portal Awarded Site award. It has also received the Internet
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Boys -kicked man to death' as he lay in drunken stupor
TWO teenagers savagely kicked and beat a man to death as he lay in a drunken stupor after celebrating the New Year, a jury was told yesterday. The 16-year-old attackers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, then went covered in blood to two parties,
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Pub late licence opposed by police
POLICE in Darlington have condemned as "short sighted" a bid by one of the town's pubs to extend its drinking hours. Yates's Wine Lodge, in Skinnergate, has submitted a bid to the council to remain open for an extra hour to 1am on Thursdays, Fridays and
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Bangers pass royal taste test
A WHISTLE-STOP visit to a North-East food factory went with a banger for a royal visitor yesterday. Prince Charles' helicopter touched down at Teesside Industrial Estate, in Thornaby, for his visit to Mr Lazenby's sausage factory almost an hour behind
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Ferry survivor relives horror
A NORTH-EAST survivor of the Greek ferry disaster in which more than 70 people were killed has returned home. Suzy McCormack last night recalled her horror as she found herself onboard a sinking ship. The 22-year-old and her American boyfriend, Justin
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The spy who kicked me'
A DRUNKEN reveller turned nasty after a woman took exception to his fancy dress antics, a court heard. Keith Sheardown, 22, pinched and bit a girl's bottom while dressed as Austin Powers at a bash to mark his 21st birthday. Mr Sheardown, of Killowen Street
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FA_to probe Quinn's bust-up with Taggert
The FA are to probe a half-time tunnel bust-up involving Niall Quinn and Gerry Taggart during Sunday's match between Sunderland and Leicester. The pair were booked for a 41st minute flare-up on the pitch and the row continued as they headed for the Stadium
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Missing girl may be with an older man
A MISSING 14-year-old girl is believed to be in the company of an older man. Police said Gail Pooley had been spotted in South Shields, South Tyneside, at the weekend. It is thought she is staying in the area with the older man. Gail was staying with
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Bennett sees competition reward
Darlington manager Gary Bennett believes his policy of player rotation and strong competition for places in bringing the best out of his squad. Bennett is operating with a big squad this season - and with the recent introduction of Paul Beavers has now
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Police begin tyre checks
A SERIES of roadside checks has begun to catch motorists driving on bald tyres. The two-week long campaign is a joint effort between Durham Police and the Tyre Industry Council. The first check took place yesterday at the Garden House lay-by, in Durham
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Woman has to flee lover's bites
A WOMAN fled almost naked from a lover who bit her, a court heard. The 35-year-old met Christopher Briddick, 36, in a bar in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, one lunchtime. Prosecutor Shaun Dodds told Teesside Crown Court yesterday how Briddick claimed
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Developer's proposal would bring new school
A LAND-swap deal that will see a developer build a new primary school in Peterlee looks likely to win council approval today. Modus Properties has offered to pay for a new North Blunts Primary School for Durham County Council as part of its multi-million
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Charity benefits from sports ban on student
WHEN teenager Edward Power was told he could not enjoy his usual summer sports because of a jaw operation, he saw an opportunity to help a charity instead. The 18-year-old, from Busby, near Stokesley, usually spends his holidays rowing, running and mountain
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Forum to raise profile
THE Hambleton and Richmondshire Mental Health Forum is planning a major exhibition to raise awareness of its work during World Mental Health Week. The group is planning to use the week to draw attention to new figures which show that one in four people
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Karen in trim for tilt at holiday prize
SUPER slimmer Karen Dodds will be hoping to fulfil her dream of flying abroad if she wins through to the finals of Woman of the Year. The mother of three has lost seven stones in eight and a half months since joining her local Slimming World classes in
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International recognition for Darlington inventor
A NORTH-EAST inventor has achieved international recognition after wining the prestigious Saatchi and Saatchi Innovation in Communication Award in New York. Darlington-based Peratech has won the award against stiff international competition for its development
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Teenager acted as lookout
A TEENAGER who acted as a look-out during a burglary was ordered to perform community service work yesterday. Steven Barrett had met a friend in the street when he was asked to act as a lookout. The man he was with broke into a house and stole a video
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Safety first!
SAFETY expertise which established Nutec as the chosen training provider for personnel working in some of the world's harshest environments, is winning it a growing army of new customers. Nutec's Centre for Safety at Teesside, which two years ago was
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frederick upsets odds
A NORTH-EAST man has defied the odds to become a champion in one of the world's toughest sports. Frederick Forrest took up Thai boxing two years ago and only had his sixth fight at the weekend. That was against European champion David DeVille, from Belgium
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Vice girls may face ban from town centre
PROSTITUTES may soon be banned from entering a town centre. Vice girls could be made subject to anti-social behaviour orders which would stop them setting foot in the centre of Middlesbrough, which they have turned into a red light district. The initiative
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Expenses claims to be published
A COUNCIL agreed yesterday to publish travel and subsistence expenses claimed annually by its members. North Yorkshire County Council had previously been concerned that only publishing the travel and subsistence expenses could create a misleading impression
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Clio plays snakes and ladders
A NINETEEN-foot python had to be rescued by firefighters yesterday after it made a bid for freedom. Clio, a 13-year-old Burmese python which weighs 11 stone, smashed open its sealed glass house, forced open a bedroom window and climbed out on to the roof
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Success of theatre school
A CHILDREN'S theatre school is celebrating its success as it moves into its second year of operation. Since it began a year ago, the Guisborough branch of the international theatre school, Stagecoach, has proved popular with the area's four to 16 year-olds
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Medical beat for the band
AN Army band swapped musical beats for heartbeats when they went to hospital to improve their medical knowledge. The King's Division Waterloo Band, from Catterick, helped to set up and run a 200-bed field hospital on an exercise in Nottinghamshire. Bandsmen
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diamond days for douglas and ann
AFTER sharing a working lifetime in the pub trade, a County Durham couple are celebrating 60 years of marriage. Their chosen profession meant many moves for Douglas and Ann Eames who have lived in Wansbeck Close, Spenymoor, since retiring in 1984 from
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Former police officer admits assault
A FORMER police officer has admitted assaulting his wife and making threatening calls to members of her family. Roger Nelson, 33, a former Consett-based constable in the Durham force, yesterday admitted three charges of assaulting his now estranged wife
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Proposals for restaurant spark concerns over traffic congestion
Plans to develop an undertakers site are likely to get the go-ahead later this week, despite concerns it will lead to traffic congestion in an already busy area. Planning permission is expected to be granted by Stockton Borough Council on Friday for a
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A bonanza time for the lawyers
THE world is so crazy these days that satire is impossible. I heard on the BBC's Sunday Programme an item about a man who has written a book to say that the European Union is being run by the Antichrist. It sounds like something presented by a partnership
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Tributes to teacher killed in road accident
TRIBUTES have been paid to a North-East teacher who died following a road accident during a holiday in Africa. Mother-of-two Gillian Young Thompson-Rajana, 53, from Whitworth Terrace, Spennymoor, suffered multiple injuries several weeks ago in Botswana
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130 suspected car crooks arrested
ONE of the North's police forces has recorded promising figures for its part in the region's biggest drive against car crime. Northumbria Police officers arrested 130 suspected car crooks in their first two weeks of Operation Outlaw, launched last month
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Vandals smash windows at church
VANDALS have smashed 11 windows in a 19th Century Durham City church - the third attack on the building this year. Parishioners at St Edmund's Church of England Church, Bearpark, spent yesterday sweeping up the shattered glass. Local youths are believed
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Man who wrote sex attack letters in appeal bid
A MAN sentenced to life after exchanging letters about his desires to rape, abduct and kill young girls will be eligible for release on parole two years earlier after an Appeal Court ruling yesterday. Peter Leighton, of Hutton Avenue, Hartlepool, was
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School honours special efforts
PUPILS who made special efforts in academic, personal and community activities were rewarded at a ceremony at Richmond School. A total of 77 students received governors' commendations for their achievements over the past year. It is the second such ceremony
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Charity raises funds for -listening' service
A CHESTER-le-Street charity which helps people with mental health problems is planning a fundraiser for a counselling service. Working with Park View School, Chester-le-Street Mind will provide a "listening post" service to help students. Counsellors
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Appeal on attack
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an attempted robbery on Friday. The incident happened at 8pm, as a 25-year-old woman was walking along a path from Allendale Road, Middlesbrough, to Ellerbeck Way, Spencerbeck. A man tried to seize her handbag before
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A steal of a deal, if you're old enough
SO INSIDIOUSLY have the years stolen by, that we can even remember the days at the Queens Head in Gainford when a monkey lived in a cage out the back. Whatever the monkey's name, Mickey probably, the landlady was called Elsie Naismith and she kept a very
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Witness hunt after child snatch bid
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man tried to snatch a four-year-old boy who was playing with friends. The incident happened at 11.30am on Saturday, at Oxford Street, Thornaby, Teesside, when a man in his fifties approached the youngster as
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Crucial lesson for youngsters
SCHOOLCHILDREN from Hambleton and Richmondshire have joined forces to launch a safety campaign. More than 2,000 youngsters joined Hambleton District Council chairman Denis Howey to sign up for the Crucial Crew campaign taking place at RAF Leeming. The
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Developer redraws last plan for marina
NINE flats are expected to be the final piece in the development of Hartlepool Marina if councillors accept amended plans for the site. Mandale Properties has already built more than 300 apartments, more than 200sq ft of standard retail and 100sq ft of
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Protest first aider setting up breakaway group
A FIRST AIDER, who spearheaded a mass resignation from the St John Ambulance Brigade, is to set up a rival group. When Russ Watson and his wife, Becky, walked out on county chiefs during an awards ceremony last week, they were followed by the entire 50
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Firm sued over boy's death in
THE family of a boy, who died in a quarry accident while building a den, is suing the site's owners. Rescuers tried desperately to save nine-year-old Jordon Gibson after a 14ft-high mound of sand collapsed on top of him at Chilton quarry, near his home
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Chance to get to grips with the Net
RESIDENTS are being invited to go along to Stockton Central Library and have fun learning new skills. Family Learning Weekend on Friday and Saturday will give youngsters, parents and grandparents the chance to learn side by side. First-time Internet users
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Nursing home can become apartments
COUNCILLORS are being urged to give the go-ahead for the transformation of a nursing home into luxury apartments on the outskirts of Darlington. Raymond and Suzanne Ward want to convert Dinsdale Park Nursing Home, at Middleton- St-George, into 20 apartments
