Archive
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Judges floored by the Bug
A FORMER Harrogate student is riding high after winning a national competition to find the Young Engineer for Britain. Louise Elliott, 18, a former pupil of St Aidan's and St John Fisher sixth-form, impressed Engineering Council judges at the Millennium
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Lice get packing
PARENTS on Teesside will soon be armed with the latest information needed to deal with a common pest. As part of a joint exercise between Tees Health Authority, local health service trusts, nurses, doctors, pharmacists and education departments in the
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Mavericks hold top team Leyburn
Wensleydale Creamery League League leaders Leyburn dropped vital points in their bid for the championship when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Richmond Mavericks. The visitors took the lead after 53 minutes through Andrew Mollitt and although
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North Yorkshire - Help pupils to make music
COLLEGE musicians are appealing for help in adding another string to their bow - or even another bow. Students at Northallerton College are looking for new instruments to build on their success in reaching the national finals of the Music for Youth Festival
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Bishops stalwart retires
Bishop Auckland stalwart Harry Smurthwaite is retiring from playing and coaching after more then half a century in the game, but he will continue as club secretary for the time being. He retires after 53 years as a player with the proud record of making
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Leading article: Two and two ...
IT is difficult to see what purpose would be served by the Northallerton NHS Trust board resigning en masse after the latest incident involving one of its gynaecologists. "A scandal too far" may make a good headline, but the patients' group formed to
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Darlington - Festive fund launched
FERRYHILL Town Council has launched a £15,000 fundraising appeal to replace its worn out Christmas lights. This year's lights display looks set to be dimmed because Durham County Council will not issue safety certificates for the town's ageing lamp-posts
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Dedicated rider won dream trip down under
A COURAGEOUS grandmother had a golden moment of her own at the Sydney Olympics. For through her monumental fund-raising efforts, Elaine Straker won a trip to the games to witness the British three-day eventing team bring home the silver medal in the sport
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Letters: Councillors' work is highly valued
Sir, - Councillors' expenses have always been, since they were introduced, the target for attack, particularly by people who have no idea how hard some members work. To ridicule them for "always attending meetings" only, in my view, shows the lack of
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Countryman's Diary: A hobby to test powers of observation
AN acquaintance, very recently retired, told me he was seeking a new interest in life and was casting around for suitable ideas. As he had spent a lot of his life living in the suburbs and working in an office, I suggested bird-watching, whereupon he
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Bus stop crash girl fights for life
A SCHOOLGIRL was fighting for her life last night after a car ploughed into children waiting at a bus stop. Laura Salmon, 11, was reported to be poorly but stable in the intensive care ward at Middlesbrough General Hospital, where she was admitted with
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The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League
IN the Durham County Cup, First Division leaders Newton Aycliffe SC thrashed Bishop Auckland King's Head 12-1, Team Scania beat Wingate Constitutional 5-2, Spraire lost 3-1 to Beamish High Hold Bird Inn while Coundon Miners Arms beat Peterlee Landscaping
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Athletics: World champion Brooks has it all
DAN Brooks of Richmond and Zetland Harriers proved himself a true all-rounder when he produced a superb performance to become the world junior double decathlon champion after two days of energy-sapping competition at Wentworth Park, Hexham. Competing
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Durham - Church attacked for third time
VANDALS have smashed 11 windows on a nineteenth century Durham City church - the third attack on the building this year. Parishioners at St Edmund's Church of England Church, Bearpark, this week swept up the shattered glass. Local youths are believed
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Walk to school with us, village challenges 'safety' councillor
AN ADVOCATE of safer routes to school is being challenged to walk the route from Neasham to Hurworth. The gauntlet is being thrown down by parish councillors who are fed up with Darlington Borough Council dragging its feet over putting in a footpath between
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Theme park expansion set for go-ahead
PLANS for a massive holiday village to be created at one of the region's most popular theme parks are expected to receive approval from local authorities. Proposals for hundreds of chalets and caravans, together with a reception complex, to be built at
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Farmer's caravan site plans are finally rejected after vote saga
A FARMER and entertainer who saw his plans to open a caravan park passed then later overturned heard this week that he had lost his appeal. Mr Paul Stephenson became embroiled in a planning wrangle with Teesdale District Council over his desire to site
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First aid training offer to firms
A NEW first aid training centre of excellence has opened its doors and is expected to prove a big hit with community groups and firms throughout North Yorkshire. The £480,000 St John Ambulance training facility, at Thirsk Industrial Estate, includes three
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Hunt for charity box thief
POLICE say the theft of a charity box from Ferryhill Library was a despicable act and are appealing for witnesses. The opportunist thief stole a cancer charity box containing about £50 in £1 coins from the library at about 6.30pm on Monday. He had been
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Griffiths goal makes all the difference
Roseberry Ladies Hockey Club Sunday Invitation League Northallerton, fielding several new players for the tough played at Thirsk Athletic Club's Astro pitch, scored their match winner in the first-half, Jacquie Griffiths on target for a 1-0 success against
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Millie takes pride of place
A SPECIAL picture has been presented to a museum on behalf of the community. During the summer, the Cleveland Lace Guild held workshops at Kirkleatham Hall Museum, Redcar, where visitors were allowed to have a go at making lace spikes for Millie the Millennium
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Youngsters learn of links with wartime heroes
BOYS at Aysgarth Preparatory School, Bedale, got a first-hand account of Hitler's attempted invasion of Britain when they met a Battle of Britain pilot. Clive Hilken, formerly of 74 Squadron, joined RAF Leeming commander John Cliffe to present a plaque
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A reunion at the Rovers for Murray and Souness
Alan Murray has trained amid goose grease (a euphemism) in Darlington South Park and among detritus (another) on Seaton Carew sands. He has marched with the Saints and witnessed Portuguese men at war but never in his life seen anything like Blackburn
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Invitation to explore the wonders of wood
WOODCARVERS plying a solitary hobby in a garden shed can start socialising and showing off their skills to fellow enthusiasts. They are being invited to join a new North-East region of the British Woodwork Association being set up by two Darlington men
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Custody centre wins backing
A CENTRAL custody facility catering for police stations throughout the Teesside area could be established if a cash bid proves successful. Members of Cleveland Police Authority gave their backing yesterday to a proposed bid to the Home Office for the
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Town and county at loggerheads on opencast scheme
A MINING company is digging in its heels after two planning authorities gave opposite verdicts on its proposed opencast site. RJB Mining wants to extract 580,000 tonnes of coal and 180,000 tonnes of fireclay from a 104-hectare site at Southfield, Brusselton
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Christmas tree campaigners aim to brighten up the town
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to bring Christmas back to a town - after an absence of 20 years. And the Christmas tree making a return to South Bank, near Middlesbrough, after two decades will become a real family tree. As part of a bid to raise £2,800
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Men urged to strip off and join up
A CHAMPION bodybuilder is hoping to set female hearts a-flutter by starting a strippers' group to rival the Chippendales. As a former amateur bodybuilding star, Richard Wild is no stranger to strutting his stuff for an admiring audience. Now he hopes
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NE passport office ready for business
THE Passport Agency's new office serving the North-East is to open next week. Home Office Minister Barbara Roche will unveil a plaque to mark the official opening of the premises, alongside the National Savings' complex at Milburngate House, in Durham
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Darts News
Willington League The best individual performances of the week were the maximums for Bruce Ross of Willington Cottles and Raymond Jackson of Oakenshaw Club, with Colin Davison hitting a sixteen darts game for Willington Burn. The Victoria Club lead the
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Ice Hockey News
Junior round-up BILLINGHAM Wolves' unbeaten start in the English U-19 North A League continued at the weekend, gaining a fourth successive victory by defeating Sheffield Steelhawks 7-2 at Queen's Road ice rink. Wolves lost Tom Griffiths with a dislocated
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Bank agrees to sell village branch it closed
PLANS to bring a range of council and community facilities to the heart of Swaledale came nearer to realisation this week Barclays Bank said it was willing to sell its redundant branch in Reeth to Richmondshire District Council at a "highly attractive
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The Albany Northern League
A goal from Peter Martin five minutes into stoppage time gave Tow Law a 2-1 win at Morpeth on Tuesday night. Morpeth took the lead after seven minutes through Tim Wilson after a Stuart Douglas shot had been blocked, and Tow Law eventually equalised through
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Spectator's Notes: Getting the message right is county's aim
NEWS management, if Spectator heard it correctly at a committee meeting the other day, seems to be among the ideas taking deeper root at the new-look North Yorkshire County Council these days. Cynical old Spectator just hopes this does not mean what he
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Renewal work on village
LONG-AWAITED work will begin next week on a £2m scheme to breath life into a former pit village. About three-quarters of the 390 homes in Eldon Lane, near Bishop Auckland, have been deemed unfit to live in, or in serious disrepair. On Monday, work will
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MP backs community centre plan
HEALTH Secretary Alan Milburn will launch a project today to convert a church hall into a community centre. The Darlington MP will visit the Willow Road Community Project during a visit to his constituency. The area around the centre is home to many elderly
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treasured gospels back on home ground at last
THE treasured Lindisfarne Gospels, penned by monks 1,300 years ago, have been returned to the North-East. And campaigners hope the loan of the lavishly illustrated manuscript to Newcastle's Laing Art Gallery, from the British Library, marks a step closer
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Sheep shop finds a new home
WHEN the owner of a successful wool and knitwear business decided to retire, one of her longest serving members of staff took over. Now, thanks to European funding, Mrs Ann Bolam has re-opened the Wensleydale Longwool Sheepshop on her husband's farm at
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Triumph over illness
A TALENTED artist has recovered from debilitating illness to stage her first solo exhibition. Angela Kruger, 54, not only suffers from ME, the chronic fatigue syndrome, but has also undergone surgery to remove extra bones growing down her neck. Having
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Stolen cars seized in blitz on -Q vehicles'
COUNTY Durham police have seized dozens of stolen cars as part of a major crackdown on vehicle crime. The force, together with their counterparts in Cleveland, North Yorkshire and Northumbria, has been taking part in Operation Outlaw, launched last month
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Durham - Festive fair aims to top £100,000
A CHARITY shopping event held annually hopes to top the £100,000 mark later this month. The Durham Shopping Extravaganza, a registered charity run by a team of volunteers, has raised £86,000 over the past 11 years for good causes in County Durham. Now
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Friends rally round to buy specialist equipment for Alisdair
SCHOOLCHILDREN put their hands in their pockets to raise cash for a friend who suffers from cerebral palsy. Pupils at Framwellgate Moor Comprehensive School, Durham City, held a collection and raised £336 for eight-year-old Alisdair Wadge. The cash will
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'Blooming hero' awarded
THE heroic efforts of a Saltburn community worker have been honoured with a major award. Jackie Taylor was hailed as the driving force behind the town's success in various bloom competitions. And at Durham Cathedral last week she received the Moran Memorial
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College employee thanks unit
A FORMER Yorkshire cricket star, who works part-time at Northallerton College, has kept a promise to support the hospital unit that helped him recover from a triple heart bypass operation. Arthur Robinson, who played for Yorkshire during the 1970s, presented
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Students heard play at gunpoint
A TROUBLED drama student held the sister of actor Jimmy Nail hostage and forced her to listen to his play at gun-point, a court heard yesterday. Lecturer Val McLane and a group of 30 terrified drama students watched in horror as Christopher David burst
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Whey aye man, us Geordies are a reet turn-on
A GEORDIE accent sounds common, but an Irish accent is sexy, according to a straw poll of North-Easterners. A national poll to find the nation's sexiest accents by the Alliance and Leicester, found that Irish comes top with 25 per cent of the vote, with
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Thome is at home
Emerson Thome predicts that Sunderland's clean sheet against Leicester will prove a springboard to success. The £4.5m Brazilian signing from Chelsea will line up against his old club next weekend confident that at last he's settling down on Wearside.
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Retail park is sold for £30m
A DARLINGTON shopping development has been sold as part of a massive £126.6m property deal. The Darlington Retail Park is one of four developments to be bought from retail warehouse specialist developer Grantchester Holdings by Coal Pension Properties
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Flower club celebrates
TO CELEBRATE the tenth anniversary of Loftus and District Flower Club, a festival of flowers entitled Flowers Through the Ages is being held in Loftus Town Hall. The preview evening is next Friday at 6pm. Tickets cost £3, which includes wine and cheese
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Searching for those who don't want to be found
HUNDREDS of people will disappear from homes across the country today. They will leave for a number of reasons; troubles at work, abuse, illness, money worries or family arguments. There again there may be no reason for them leaving at all, other than
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Security stepped up as police warn against soccer violence
POLICE are stepping up security ahead of today's derby match between arch-rivals Hartlepool and Darlington. Officers have reassured the public that there will be a strong police presence before and after the game at Hartlepool's Victoria Park. But their
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Bennett's early warning
Darlington manager Gary Bennett is urging his players to follow his example at Victoria Park this afternoon. Quakers go to Hartlepool for the first Division Three derby of the season, looking to add to their play-off double over Pool in the spring. But
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Giving thanks at an all-ticket affair
Like Wembley Stadium, whose last we shall see today, Newcastle's Roman Catholic Cathedral was strictly all-ticket - and with a little plan on the back, to direct the faithful to their seats. Like Wembley there was also a fulsome programme and a press
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Bus stop crash girl fights for life
A SCHOOLGIRL was fighting for her life last night after a car ploughed into children waiting at a bus stop. Laura Salmon, 11, was reported to be poorly but stable in the intensive care ward at Middlesbrough General Hospital, where she was admitted with
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Black grouse flourishes in managed areas
BLACK grouse numbers are taking off where land management agreements are operating. Numbers were declining faster than all but one other bird species in England, but there are now signs of recovery in the North Pennines. At the last count, 800 males were
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Man convicted of exposing himself
A MAN dropped his trousers in front a group of boys at a pond as they enjoyed a fishing trip, a court heard yesterday. Newcastle Crown Court heard that Brian Brough, 21, emerged from bushes at the pond, near Sunderland, and exposed himself as the boys
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Student who used fake gun walks free
A MAN pulled a fake gun on a young university student after finding his flat had been ransacked, a court heard yesterday. Undergraduate Ross Falkner, 23, who is 6ft 9in tall, threatened to "put a bullet" in Sunderland University student Emma Ward during
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Purge on poachers as salmon return
ENVIRONMENTAL groups have launched a crackdown on salmon poachers on the region's rivers after an increase in the number of fish returning to the area. Surveillance cameras have been set up at a number of places along the rivers Tees, Ure and Ouse, as
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Police hunt for woman's attacker
POLICE released an e-fit last night in a bid to track the man who attacked a woman as she walked along a deserted path. The incident happened at 8pm on Friday as the 25-year-old was walking from Allendale Road to Ellerbeck Way, in Spencerbeck, Middlesbrough
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Hear all Sides
NEIL HEBBLETHWAITE I AM concerned at the presentation of your report about Neil Hebblethwaite, the consultant gynaecologist at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, who has been dismissed for having an affair with a patient (Echo, Oct 4). The association
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No headpine
Wembley I went to Wembley with Darlington when they played Plymouth and the atmosphere when both teams came out I will remember for ever. Darlington lost but put up a very spirited performance. I had followed Spennymoor United for years and when Plymouth's
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Rail operators on defensive over poor punctuality record
MAJOR rail operators in the region sought to defend themselves last night after new figures revealed train punctuality has deteriorated. The percentage of trains running on time worsened on 21 of the 25 passenger train company routes across the country
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Village prepares to fight phone mast scheme
A BATTLE could be looming over a mobile phone mast scheme in Cleveland. People are being urged to register their concerns about the plans for a 15-metre mast near Carlton in Cleveland. A resident, Mr John Irwin, says if the development goes ahead it will
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Supermarkets blamed for family butchers' closure
SUPERMARKETS and out-of-town retail parks are being blamed for the closure of one of Northallerton's oldest family businesses. S & A Trueman has been a High Street name in the town for 42 years, with three generations of butchers trading under the
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Turner concentrating on his -match of the day'
ENGLAND take a back seat this afternoon on Teesside as Hartlepool United entertain Darlington. The Division Three rivals go head to head as the national spotlight is on England and Germany at Wembley. The Victoria Park crowd is expected to be down on
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Looking Back: Single cells cut out workhouse cronyism
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Vagrancy at Bedale: The efficacy of the Local Government Board regulations with regard to the treatment of vagrants has had a good illustration at Bedale Workhouse. Several years ago Bedale used to be a favourite dumping
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Designer baby may save our daughter
A NORTH-EAST family, whose daughter has the same bone marrow deficiency as American girl Molly Nash, are to ask doctors to help them have a test tube baby, which could save her life. Four-year-old Simone Phillipson shares the extremely rare and life-threatening
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Legion keeps standard flying
AFTER nearly 30 years of loyal service, the worn and dilapidated standard of the Consett Royal British Legion is to be retired. The legion branch's women's section has secured funding for a new £800 banner, which will be officially dedicated in Christ
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Jeans okay as school marks genes day
PUPILS and teachers at a North-West Durham school will be donning their jeans in aid of genes day today. Staff at Stanley School of Technology are organising the day to raise money to fund research into genetic disorders affecting children, and provide
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Heard the one about the Skoda and the policeman ...
A FEW year's ago any police force using a Skoda to catch criminals would have come in for some serious leg-pulling. But since Skoda was take over by Volkswagen, the former by-word for Eastern European motoring mediocrity is now producing some top of the
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Nightclub plan unveiled
Ultimate Leisure plans to open a £2.5m nighclub in the centre of Sunderland next year. The company will create a 900-capacity nightspot called Sea, by converting the Durham Book Centre in Albion Place. It has won a drinks licence for the club from the
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Murder charge youth 'attacked man for a laugh'
A YOUTH, jointly accused of murdering a man on New Year's Eve, told a court yesterday how he decided to mug him "for a laugh". The 16-year-old, who cannot be named, is accused with another teenager of murdering Malcolm Wilson, 46, who was on his way home
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Four women in bid for Mo seat
FOUR women have declared an interest in replacing retiring Redcar MP Mo Mowlam. The Local Labour Party executive met last night with regional party advisers to decide a selection timetable. John McCormack, constituency chairman, said: "It's going to be
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Blue has phone tones taped parrot-fashion
A FOUR-year-old African grey parrot is leaving pet shop customers reaching for their pocket phones by imitating ringing tones. Bemused visitors are left fumbling for their mobile phones and trying to answer calls before realising chirpy Blue is to blame
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Offers of help pour in so rider can go to national final
BIG-hearted readers of the D&S Times have saved the day for a disabled rider. They rallied round so that Miss Isobel Reynolds can compete in a riding challenge this weekend. Miss Reynolds is through to a national final in Warwick on Sunday but she
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Youngest champ
Matthew Hurst became the youngest winner of the Durham County Restricted Badminton Championship Finals for 20 years, but has nothing to show for his achievement. The 17-year-old from Thorpe Larches, Stockton, wasn't awarded either a trophy or a medal
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Consumer service wins approval
COUNTY Durham's consumer watchdogs have been given the thumbs-up by the people who use the service. A survey carried out by Durham County Council's consumer services department, among 500 consumers, found that most are satisfied with its work. More than
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Cash support call for charter celebrations
THE organisers of celebrations marking the 750th anniversary of the Bedale market charter hope they will attract financial help ranging from £50 to £5,000. A local steering committee is planning a series of events next year with special emphasis on the
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Special autumn livestock sales
HAWES. - Thus of last week. Annual show and sale on behalf of Blue-faced Leicester Sheep Breeders' Association. Fwd: 173 aged & shlg rams 602 ram lambs, 45 females. Champion: DJ&S Atkinson shlg ram £300; res DJ&S Atkinson, ram lamb, £460.
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Move to allay traders' fears over market
COUNCIL chiefs are trying to allay traders' fears over the introduction of Darlington's first farmers' market. Darlington Borough Council is to hold the first market on Friday, October 20, and two others in November and December. If these pilot markets
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Thai boxing: Forrest takes European title
THAI boxer Frederick Forrest, from Gainford, defied the odds to become European champion in only his sixth fight at the weekend. The 28-year-old, who only took up the sport two years ago, caused a major upset when he recorded a hard-fought points victory
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Hill farmers up against European 'brick wall'
THE "brick wall" hill farming lobbyists are up against in Europe was graphically described last week. The frustration felt by Mr Peter Allen, chairman of the NFU's national less favoured area committee, was all too clear. He said: l the hill farm allowance
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Honour for young lifesaver
A QUICK-thinking seven-year-old has been honoured with an award for her life-saving actions after her mother collapsed. Although she had never seen her mother Sue have an epileptic fit before, Eilish Way remembered being told about them. So when the 43
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Council denies bin emptying claims
A COUNCIL chief has denied claims that an area's bins will be emptied up to 9pm. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's chief executive, Colin Moore, spoke in the wake of threatened strike action by binmen over the alleged plan. John McDade, a regional
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Well-versed in poetry
SOAP stars shed their wax jackets to wax lyrical at a college event in aid of National Poetry Day. Six characters from Emmerdale were among those taking part in a seven-hour poetry marathon at the MacMillan College, in Middlesbrough, yesterday. They shared
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Museum scheme unveiled
NEW plans to build a heritage museum for north Durham have been outlined, the Northern Echo can reveal. Derwentside District Council officers have drawn up a report outlining the possibility of a museum and are planning a feasibility study into a partnership
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Rugby: Irwin hat-trick as Mowden rout Northern
THE Darlington clubs return to Tetley's Bitter Cup action tomorrow on the back of impressive league victories last Saturday. Flanker Tony Irwin, returning after injury, scored a hat-trick of tries as Mowden Park won their North Division One match at Northern
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Learning by skipping lessons
PUPILS at an east Durham primary school gladly skipped lessons yesterday to find out how fine footwork could help keep them fit. The children from Howletch school, in Peterlee, watched with fascination as twin boxers Rhydian and Steffan Hughes demonstrated
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Play fair, butcher tells farmers over markets
A DARLINGTON butcher is alarmed at the threat to traditional festive trade from a proposed farmers' market. Market traders and shops in the town have been told of a pilot scheme, as an added attraction to the popular Christingle markets, in a consultation
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This comic army marches on and on
ONE of TV's best-loved comedies first saw the light of day on a train journey from Victoria to Stratford East. Actor Jimmy Perry was on his way across London to work with Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop company and took the opportunity to jot down
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Children and staff celebrate millennium and 30th anniversary
STAFF and pupils at St Paul's RC Primary School, Billingham, are celebrating the Millennium and their 30th anniversary in style. This month, the school proudly unveiled its Millennium Garden with the help of the Middlesbrough football star Robbie Mustoe
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Compensation payments
THE maximum compensation payable during October for an animal slaughtered because it is affected by brucellosis will be £468.
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The moral dilemma of saving life
ADAM Nash, the boy bred to give his six-year-old sister life, has sparked heated debate over the moral rights and wrongs of creating 'designer babies'. The very phrase conjures up images of rich, self-centred, narrow-minded parents paying to ensure children
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Pedestrian killed after driver's foot slips
A PEDESTRIAN was killed after an elderly motorist accidentally accelerated into her path. The driver's foot slipped as she was trying to brake, an inquest was told. Antonia Basile suffered multiple injuries when the automatic Ford Fiesta, driven by Mary
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Snooker News
Worthington CIU Pairs Championship Michael Pratt and Jossie Aldworth of Old Shildon landed the Pairs Championship when they beat Gordon Parkin and Ton Parkin of Willington in the final, played at Leeholme. This was some consolation for Pratt, who after
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Row rages over road
ANGRY protesters made their voices heard as a vintage bus became the first vehicle to climb the re-opened Loftus Bank. Residents and shopkeepers who believe the extended work has caused them unnecessary disruption gathered as the road was re-opened on
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Listen very carefully . . .
I SHALL say this only once - Chester-le-Street is to host the North-East stage premier of the hit TV comedy 'Allo, 'Allo. The popular BBC show, based in occupied France during the Second World War, has been adapted for the stage, and Chester's Nomad Theatre
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Temporary bridge brings relief to Richmond traders
LIMITED traffic was flowing in and out of Richmond over the flood-damaged Mercury bridge today after a temporary structure was put in place. Traders in the town claim to have lost millions of pounds worth of business since the 154-year-old bridge over
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Durham pair at double
PETER Coates and Michael O'Donovan both members of the successful track and field team at Durham City Harriers took part in this year's ultimate challenge, the World's Double Decathlon championship, which was held in Britain for the first time, at Hexham
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Potato prices
Yorkshire and North-East. - Thurs. Ex-farm in bags: Estima, Nadine, Marfona and other whites, main range £70-£80 a tonne, best quality £90-£100. Maris Piper £80-£115. Bulk: White varieties, main range £50-£80, best £90-£100. Processing £50, Maris Piper
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National place for bra lady Sadie
A NORTH-EAST woman famed for her impressive bras, is through to the final stages of a national fashion competition. Sadie Ayton, otherwise known as Sadie the Bra Lady, has been chosen to go through to the last six of the Drapers Record 2000 awards in
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Bus drivers in one-day strike
THREE hundred bus drivers will stage a one-day strike today over pay. The drivers, who work for Go Gateshead, have rejected a four per cent rise offered by directors who awarded themselves increases of up to 17 per cent. Routes throughout the borough
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Racing Week, with Jo Scott: Yorkshire raiders take French prizes
RUNNERS from Yorkshire scored three excellent thirds in top class company on Arc day at Longchamp, each taking home purses worth between £7,000 to £9,000. Sugarfoot, ridden by Willie Ryan and sent over by Nigel Tinkler to contest the Prix du Rond-Point-Casino
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Junior Foothball
Crook Town Two first-half goals gave Crook a 2-0 away win over Ashton United in the third qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup. Crook now travel to Oldham Athletic in the first round proper on October 20. Ian Currie put Crook ahead and Stephen Tompkins
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Leaving farm for IT
FARMER Mr Richard Davies has turned his back on farming in the hope of pursuing a new career in IT. Mr Davies, who is 27 and from Hurworth Moor, Darlington, said the crisis in agriculture left him with no alternative but to look for something else. "It
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Pupils give new life to redundant trophy
A SCHOOL plans to dust off a cup which used to be presented to green-fingered villagers on the outskirts of Darlington. The Hurworth Garden Cup was once given to the residents with the best-kept council house garden in the village. Because there are now
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Farmer and his vet are winning partnership
A TEESDALE farmer was so pleased with his vet he nominated her for an award. Now Mr Brian Medd and the vet Miss Fiona Hatchell, pictured right, have both come out top from more than 300 entries in the sheep category of the national FarmVet award, a competition
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Patients can access healthcare details
A WEBSITE has been launched as a quick and easy guide to help patients access healthcare. The site, which went on line last month, has been designed by the Middlesbrough and Eston Primary Care Group as a tool for members of the public to learn more about
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Coastguard station restored
A PROJECT to transform a 60s' marine laboratory back to its early 20th century appearance as a coastal lookout station reaches its climax today. The official opening of the old coastguard station at Robin Hood's Bay is taking place this morning. TV personality
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String along with me
GUISBOROUGH'S mayor is all set to hit a high note in his civic year. Coun Brian Whiteley is forming a four-piece blues band. and the group's debut performance will be at a charity night for the mayor's year in office. Coun Whiteley will play bass guitar
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Queen Mother's gift boosts plucky fundraisers
A TINY East Cleveland congregation has been helped by the Queen Mother in its struggle for survival. Her contribution of a candy jar to a celebrity auction run by Loftus Methodist church members, some now in their 80s and 90s, was its top lot. The eventual
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Theatre group beckons to new members
A THEATRE arts group is on the look-out for new members. The Theatre Workshop, based at the Customs House in South Shields, wants new recruits, aged over 25, who are interested in participating in creative and performance arts, including theatre workshops
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Atkinson leads way to reduce handicap
Bedale Juniors Hall Shield With a steady 76, junior captain Gareth Atkinson returned the best gross score and when his handicap was taken into account was the clear winner of the shield and subsequently had his handicap reduced from nine to eight. Results
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Villagers win seaside special
SEASIDE trips are back on the agenda for Teesside villagers after a bus company agreed to lay on extra stops. Fed-up residents of East Cleveland villages, which have been excluded from services from Middlesbrough to Whitby and Scarborough for years, recently
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Funding boost for cancer campaign
HEALTH bosses have targeted £424,000 at combating cancer. Teesside Health Action Zone has allocated the cash to schemes including work to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, accelerating the turnaround time of tests, and on prevention and awareness-raising
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Wear Valley - Couple appeal for return of wedding pictures
HEARTBROKEN newlyweds are appealing to a cruel thief to return treasured only pictures of their romantic Caribbean wedding. Carol and David Scott tied the knot in a barefoot beach ceremony during a fabulous fortnight's holiday in Jamaica last month. When
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Showing how to realise full beef profit potential
A BEEF demonstration and seminar on realising the full potential for profits takes place near Thirsk on Monday. Messrs Tony and Nicholas Farrer play host to the event, organised by Keenan, at Vicar Lane Farm, Little Thirkleby. Keenan says its system of
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The search for a Local Hero is underway
We have begun the search for the Local Hero of 2000 - the outstanding performer in grass roots sport in the North-East. Since The Northern Echo launched Local Heroes over a year ago thousands of people's sporting achievements have been recognised. So
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Residents help choose traffic improvements
RESIDENTS are being offered the chance to say how they think £330,000 can best be spent on improving a stretch of road. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is staging an exhibition for residents of Brotton to choose their top three traffic management
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Silent nights, chimes by day
A SET of church bells are chiming again, after being silent for eight years. The chimes of Emmanuel church, Saltburn, were silenced because nearby residents won their appeal for a night's sleep. But its vicar, the Rev Ian Patterson, thought it would be
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First aiders walk out
A FIRST aider who spearheaded a mass resignation from the St John's Ambulance Brigade, is to set up a rival group. Russ Watson and his wife, Becky, walked out on county chiefs during an awards ceremony last week, followed by the entire 50-strong East
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A Good Sport, with Paul Pearson: Steady aim gets best results
WITH which sport would you associate battues, minis, midis, rockets, standards and rabbits? A cracking sports quiz question you might think, but it would be an absolute gift to the hundreds of people around the region who enjoy clay pigeon shooting. Before
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Schools wait to hear on labs plan
SCHOOLS across North Yorkshire could be in line for new laboratories under a Government scheme. Just before the end of the summer term, Westminster allocated more than £650,000 to the county under its School Laboratories for the 21st Century programme
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Chester le Street - Call to get tough on cowboy gas fitters
CAMPAIGNERS are calling for tougher sentences for cowboy gas fitters after an unregistered workman was fined just £400 for the botched installation of a gas fire. Chester-le-Street couple Maurice Watson and Margaret Dinning found their health deteriorate
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Consett & Stanley - Anniversary concert planned
THE Tyneside Chamber Orchestra will perform at St Cuthbert's Church, Church Bank, Shotley Bridge, Consett, at 7.30pm, on Friday, October 13. Admission is £3, concessions, £2.50. Conductor Noel Broome and leader Pauline Aitchison will take the orchestra
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The otter gains a staunch ally in the battle
OTTERS have had a bad press in recent years. Fishermen accuse them of eating all the fish and some farmers are far from friendly. Now, one man has taken on the job of putting a positive spin on the maligned creature and the work of a trust dedicated to
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Helping with Dome debut
A student has been putting special needs children through their paces to prepare them for their Millennium Dome debut. Marie Foster, 20, a final year leisure management student at the University of Teesside, has been helping youngsters from Middlesbrough's
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Just who missed the rabbits?
WE'D been through so much together, us and the rabbits. . . The original Jasmine dying after just a few weeks; a substitute Jasmine being found to mend broken hearts; painful memories flooding back as I took Aladdin to have his manhood severed in the
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School beats Yarm parking poser
A SCHOOL has won its battle over waiting curbs near its grounds in Yarm. Stockton council has backed off from increasing restrictions on the roads near Yarm school. The school had opposed the plans, saying very young children could be put at risk and
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Get on course for good feeling
NEW courses in health and beauty looking at topics such as fitness, motivation and beauty therapy start in County Durham next week. The North Lodge site of Chester-le-Street's Park View Community will be the venue for the Looking good, feeling good courses
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Food for thought
LOCAL children will fill up on nutritional advice as part of a national campaign. Schools in East Cleveland will be visited by dieticians and oral health promotion staff from the Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust as part of Food Awareness Week,
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Old-established firms in merger
TWO long-standing firms of Darlington chartered surveyors, Smiths Gore and Tarn Bainbridge, have merged. Smiths Gore was founded in 1847 and opened a Darlington office in 1863; Tarn Bainbridge traces its origins back to 1891. In the last year the two
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Football: Beavers on the mark
QUAKERS are hoping Hartlepool old boy Paul Beavers can prove the missing link in attack as they take on their derby rivals tomorrow. The big striker, who played against Darlington in last season's play-off semi-final, made an immediate impact when he
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Chloe's comfort for bus stop crash girl
A SCHOOLGIRL has been praised for comforting a fellow pupil injured when a car ploughed into a bus stand. Chloe Edmondson, 15, was walking to the stand in Bedale Avenue, Billingham, when she heard a loud smash and was confronted by injured and distressed
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Illuminating experience as duke beholds gospel beauty
PRINCE Andrew, the Duke of York, visited the North-East yesterday to see the Lindisfarne Gospels - with tourism bosses hoping he will be the first of many tourists to see the manuscript. Northumbria Tourist Board is hoping the gospels draw the same intense
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Solano rethinks schedule
Nolberto Solano will think twice about his World Cup obligations if Peru fail to qualify for the 2002 finals. Newcastle midfielder Solano plays in his country's ninth qualifier against Bolivia in La Paz tomorrow. And he faces a further nine journeys to
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Schoolboy had sex with girl, aged eight
A SCHOOLBOY who sexually assaulted an eight-year-old girl at least ten times walked free from court yesterday. The 14-year-old from Darlington, County Durham, was given a two-year supervision order after admitting one charge of unlawful sexual intercourse
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Time to rebuild Serbian bridges
THE Serbian people have reclaimed their country. Now Europe and the rest of the West must help them rebuild it. The rise of Vojislav Kostunica, a Serbian nationalist, would have be seen as worrying in the West were it not for the fact that he was replacing
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Parents' plea for seatbelts action
PARENTS are backing moves to ensure all vehicles taking children to and from school are fitted with seatbelts. This week, The Northern Echo launched its School Seatbelt Scandal campaign after discovering that a legal loophole meant thousands of youngsters
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Mast plan overruled
PHONE mast protestors are celebrating after plans to locate two antennae close to their homes were turned down. Residents of Marske were outraged to learn that the mobile phone giant One 2 One had earmarked sites on the Coast Road and Church Howle Crescent
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School celebrates success
A CHILDREN'S theatre school is celebrating success as it enters its second year of operation. Since it began a year ago, the Guisborough branch of international theatre school, Stagecoach, has proved popular with the area's four to 16-year-olds. Based
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Swimming News
The second half of the local swimming season starts with a bang tomorrow (9.30am, 1.30 and 5.30pm) and Sunday (9.30am and 1.30pm) with the staging of the 17th Darlington big open and age group meet at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington, writes ERIC WILKINSON
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Ben steps out of the chorus and into spotlight
MILLIONS of TV viewers saw 18-year-old North-East singer Ben Forster plucked out of the chorus in fairy-tale fashion to take a starring role in a major new West End musical. Ben, from Millfield, Sunderland, was shown being cheered on by a coachload of
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Charity fraud manager jailed
A MANAGER who conned a charity out of more than £7,000 was jailed yesterday. Stephen Henry, 30, falsified insurance documents and funeral plans when he worked for the charity for the elderly, Age Concern, Bosses at the North Tyneside branch challenged
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Heartbeat veteran to return
VETERAN Heartbeat star Bill Maynard is being written back into TV's most-watched drama series despite being described as "an uninsurable risk" by Yorkshire TV bosses, after a third stroke left him paralysed. The announcement came yesterday from group
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Champion Kimtai looks to defend his 10k crown
KENYAN road-racing ace Julius Kimtai will be hot favourite to lift the £1,000 first prize in tomorrow's star-studded Auckland Castle 10K. And the Coventry-based athlete, who is defending his title, will be trying to set a new course record after some
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Nurse celebrates new post
A NURSERY nurse has become the 1,000th resident to find employment through a community scheme. Donna Buttery secured her job at the Priory Day Nursery, in Grangetown, through Job Connect, the Single Regeneration-funded project for Grangetown and South
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Grain prices
Thursday's prices Kenneth Wilson, Thorpe Arch.- Wheat: Oct £60; Nov £60; Dec £60.50. Barley: Oct £61; Nov £62; Dec £63. Oilseed rape: Oct £125; Nov £125; Dec £126. GrainCo, Tyne Dock. - Wheat: Oct £59; Nov £60; Dec £61. Barley: Oct £61; Nov £61; Dec £62
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Drama event set to break records
VETERAN radio presenter Stewart McFarlane will join a Teesside drama group when it takes part in a record-breaking performance. The Saltburn '53 Drama Group is taking part in the BT Biennial event, the biggest amateur dramatics event in the UK this year
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Putting on their jeans for charity
ACCOUNTANTS will be breaking their dress code and going to work in jeans today - and are hoping others will follow suit. Mitchells Chartered Accountants in Bishop Auckland are casting aside their dress code for the national Jeans for Genes Appeal. They
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tanfield group invests in employees of the future
EXPANDING engineering company, The Tanfield Group, is investing in its future workforce by creating five new positions for trainees. The company, based at Tanfield Lea, near Stanley, currently employs more than 200 staff. It has further boosted those
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Impressive Winchester!
THE weekend of our visit to Winchester, it rained. It rained as we left Darlington, it rained as we passed through North Yorkshire and the Midlands, and it rained as we drove through the south. It rained so much that I began looking out for long queues
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Dancers make the grade
THREE Darlington dancers are celebrating after enjoying a recent exam success. Heather Heyburn, 11, Victoria Ormerod, 12 and Hayley Rossington, 13, attend the Born to Dance studio in Parkgate, Darlington. Victoria and Hayley both passed a national dance
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Wear Valley - Bid to avert flood risk
WORRIED residents who fear they will be struck again by devastating floods, heard plans that should avert another disaster. In a highly emotional meeting on Monday, officials put forward proposals that ought to prevent a repeat of the catastrophic floods
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Holiday in store for winner
A LUCKY Darlington supermarket shopper has scooped a family holiday worth more than £1,000. Winner Sheila Robinson received the holiday in a charity draw held at the Morrisons store in Morton Park, Darlington, in aid of ChildLine, the supermarket's charity
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Walk helps the sick on pilgrimage
ST Benet's year sixes and year fives completed a sponsored five-mile walk recently. Every pupil raised £10 to pay for a wheelchair, which would go to Lourdes with the Hexham and Newcastle Diocesan Pilgrimage. In the school's 25th anniversary year, pupils
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Dream start for United's Sankey
Bamber Bridge 1 Marske United 1 MARSKE United got off to a dream start in their FA Cup tie at Bamber Bridge when Darren Sankey fired in within a minute. United dominated the early play and Sankey came close to adding to the score. Neil Hodgson put in
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North Yorkshire - Stores fear depot sale
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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Guisborough still unbeaten
Consett 1 Guisborough Town 1 A DEPLETED Guisborough extended their unbeaten run in Albany Northern League Division One to three games. Guisborough had their best chance of the match to open their account as the fast and furious first half drew to a close
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Enthusiasts rev up for classic cycle rally
MOTOR cycle enthusiasts are revving up for a weekend of nostalgia at the seaside. The event taking place on Sunday is the 19th Teesside Classic Bike Show at Redcar Leisure Centre. One of the fans looking forward to the event is Bill Tuffnell from Eston
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Arts News: New director looks to add global dimension to festival
THE new director of the Swaledale festival hopes his contacts in the arts world across Europe will give an international dimension to the annual event. Mr Philip Parr, a freelance opera director, took over the organisation of the two-week festival from
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Boro Chat
AFTER the three-point display at the Dell it's a blank weekend for Boro as the final game at Wembley, England v Germany, takes centre stage. The main Riverside focus is to get the home form right in time for the visit of Newcastle. Central defender Colin
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Athletics News
Elswick Harriers THE ladies team took part in the four-stage road relay championships at Sefton Park, Liverpool, for the first time and emerged with great credit by finishing in 16th place out of 45 teams. Sophie Milburn ran 13.52 for the 4km course to
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Prices at ther markets
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed. Fwd: 1,526 sheep, 7 calves. Bull calves to £145; hfrs to £28. Std lambs to 86.1p av 76.1p; med to 85.8p av 78.6p; heavy to 81.3p av 78.6p. Cast ewes: Mule to £19; Cont to £22; Texel to £24.80; Leics to £24; Suff to £23. BISHOP AUCKLAND
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Leading Methodist takes on new role
A GREAT Ayton grandmother has been elected president of the women's network of the Methodist church for the Darlington district. Mrs Mollie Locke, a well-known Methodist and local BBC broadcaster, will be inducted during a service at 10.45 at Trinity
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Cameras to keep watch on high street criminals
SKELTON could soon be put in the picture about the antics of local criminals. A closed circuit television system is being bought and installed through a £53,300 Single Regeneration Budget grant, covering the full length of the high street 24 hours a day
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Angling News
The first round of the North-East Winter League got underway on the Wear, fished from Shincliffe through Durham downstream to Chester Moor writes JEFF HERBERT. Yarm Piscatorials pulled out the fancied end peg draws and incredibly saw five team members
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New blow for flood-hit village
A COUNCIL'S decision not to grant funds to help a village recover from a devastating flood has been described as a 'hammer blow.' Loftus Town Council decided at a meeting on Monday night not to set aside cash for the Skinningrove Flood Appeal, which was
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Chester le Street - Animal charity plans £3m centre
AN ANIMAL welfare charity is planning to build a £3m kennels and visitor centre to cater for hundreds of the region's abandoned animals. The RSPCA hopes to build the centre on the site of a former community college in Chester-le-Street, which has recently
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Letters: Phone mast plan in national park
Sir, - The North York Moors National Park Authority is advertising in this week's paper the planning application received from BT Cellnet to erect a 15 metre monopole mast on land owned by Faceby Farms at the junction of the A172 Stokesley Road and the
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Darlington - Pub bids to open longer at weekend
POLICE in Darlington have condemned as 'short sighted' a plan by a pub 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 until 1am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Police
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Two-year fire crew dispute resolved
A THREATENED strike by fire crews has been called off. But, despite securing a victory in their two-year dispute with Cleveland Fire Authority, officers warn it will take some time to repair the loss of trust with their employer. The decision to drop
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Consett & Stanley - Children's poster plea to council
CHILDREN are often bored and bewildered by stuffy planning issues - but not a young trio from Stanley. The youngsters were so concerned about possible developments on a stretch of land near their homes, that they made a poster telling planners and developers
