Archive
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RAF man's death riddle
DETECTIVES were last night investigating the sudden death of a young RAF serviceman after medical examinations proved inconclusive. Lee James Wilde, a 25-year-old corporal serving at RAF Leeming, in North Yorkshire, was found dead at the base on Sunday
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Delight as Burma frees jailed North-East activist
THE North-East family of jailed human rights activist James Mawdsley was last night celebrating the news he is to be released after more than a year in prison. Burmese authorities announced yesterday they are to deport the 27-year-old pro-democracy campaigner
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Statue tribute to a gipsy's 'boy with the golden boots'
WILF MANNION'S glittering future was foretold by a gipsy - when he was only two years old. Pat Wilson, Wilf's niece, said: "I remember my father told me when Wilf was only a little boy a Romany gipsy came to the door. The gipsy said there was gold in
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Same again for Bennett
Darlington manager Gary Bennett is looking for a repeat performance when his side take on Football League newboys Kidderminster tonight. Quakers moved into seventh place with Saturday's impressive 2-0 win over Torquay, and another win at Feethams could
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I won't be safe until monster is locked up
A YOUNG North-East rape victim bravely spoke out last night in a bid to catch the sex beast who subjected her to a horrific attack in a town centre park. The 21-year-old told The Northern Echo of her attack and how it had affected her life. Rachel, not
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Families warn homes scheme could disturb toxic chemicals
RESIDENTS on a Consett estate are again preparing to fight controversial housing plans after losing out in a similar row two years ago. Miller Homes is putting the finishing touches to a 78-home development on the site of the town's former steelworks.
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Losses fail to ground Magpies
BOSSES at Newcastle United predicted a bright future for the club yesterday despite revealing annual pre-tax losses of £19m. With the on-time and within budget completion of the redevelopment of St James' Park increasing stadium capacity to 52,000, and
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Conference to look at preventinggas danger
ORGANISERS of a conference aimed at highlighting the life-threatening dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) are urging interested parties to register now before it is too late. There have been high levels of interest in the event, organised by the Council of
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When in Rome we will do as we like
IT might be a culinary essential to the Italians, but the Queen's hosts during her state visit to Rome have been told to spare the garlic. It just wouldn't be proper for the monarch and Prince Philip to breathe pongy fumes over the many people they'll
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Quarry 'Jurassic Park' discovery
A DISUSED quarry near a tiny County Durham village has been revealed as one of the most important sites in the country for fossils. Middridge Quarry has been described as "internationally significant" by English Nature and has already produced a number
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Sportsman dies on foreign trip
A COMMUNITY has been devastated by the sudden death of a talented rugby player while on holiday with his fiancee. Father-of-two Paul Fitt, 36, from Bishop Auckland, is believed to have died of an asthma attack while attending a friend's wedding in Cyprus
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Big push to help fight meningitis
TWO friends aim to raise cash for charity, with pedal power. Computer analyst Mark Griffiths, 31, and teacher Mike Davis, 34, of Durham City, hope to raise more than £600 for the National Meningitis Trust by cycling 140 miles from Whitehaven, in Cumbria
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Fairytale show leaves performers in the pink
A GIANT pink inflatable tent provided the colourful backdrop for a fairytale performance at a school. The tent was pitched in the grounds of Deerness Valley Comprehensive School, Bearpark, County Durham, on Saturday, where 20 local people were staging
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Law and order, education and health still battling staff crisis
GOVERNMENT promises to improve public services have been rocked by claims of a widespread staffing crisis in the key areas of education, health, and law and order. Despite pledges of millions of pounds to boost recruitment, staff organisations claim there
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Methodist missionary trip
A METHODIST preacher has returned from a humanitarian mission to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Bill Worley, a preacher on the Weardale circuit, flew to the Caribbean on September 17 with a missionary group. He said: "The contrast between Haiti and
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Women flee from house fires
A WOMAN and her daughter escaped from a fire which started in the bedroom of their home early yesterday. The 36-year-old mother escaped from the two-storey maisonette in Waterloo Walk, Sulgrave, Washington, suffering from smoke inhalation and minor burns
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Sailor killed in 40ft submarine plunge
SAILOR Steven Somerville died after plunging 40ft down a missile tube in a Trident submarine. The 25-year-old Royal Navy mechanic from Tyneside fell while carrying out routine checks in the missile shaft on HMS Vengeance. The Royal Navy has launched an
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A66 slip road building gets go-ahead
WORK on building a slip road designed to improve an A66 accident blackspot, will start in February. Villagers in Sadberge, near Darlington, fought long and hard to prevent the slip road, which will link the A66 to Middleton Lane, from going ahead. However
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Fuel tax protest backed
ORGANISERS of a campaign aimed at cutting fuel tax say it is off to a flying start. The Darlington branch of the National Federation of Small Businesses says it has been overwhelmed by calls from people wanting to support the campaign. Motorists are being
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Campaign presses for hospital inquiry
FORMER patients of disgraced surgeon Richard Neale have pledged to step up their campaign for a full inquiry into the scandal. Dozens of members of the Victims of Richard Neale support group met at the weekend for the first time since the former consultant
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Concert provides stage to rising talent
THREE of the region's top unsigned bands will kick-start a venture aimed at giving up-and-coming talent a stage. Colin McCosh, who has worked for various music publications in the region, came up with the idea of the showcase event after growing increasingly
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Cyberspace bid to beat killer brain illness
A UNIVERSITY is launching a website for students in a bid to beat meningitis. The University of Teesside will launch the site this week, during its Meningitis Awareness Week. Based on a design by a computing graduate, Scott Layton, it aims to highlight
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Cleared rape case man faces threats
A MAN falsely accused of rape may be forced to leave his home town because of threats made against him and his family. Kevin Turner, of the Firth Moor estate, Darlington, was cleared by a jury at Teesside Crown Court last week of three counts of rape.
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Revellers provide leads in rapist hunt
POLICE hunting a suspected rapist say they have gathered a number of "positive" leads. Detectives from Darlington questioned weekend revellers in the town in an effort to catch the man responsible for the rape of a 21-year-old woman. She was attacked
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Patrols stepped up to catch sex pests
A POLICE force is stepping up efforts to catch sex pests on Teesside. Crime analysts working with Cleveland Police are plotting an emerging crime pattern, which could reveal two flashers who have been menacing girls and women at Billingham. The move was
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Orienteering course opens at country park
CHILDREN were steered in the right direction at the opening of an orienteering course. The course is a joint venture between the William Cassidy Church of England Primary School and Stockton Borough Council's countryside teams, and has been partly sponsored
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Plea for return of husband
THE wife of a 70-year-old retired businessman who is missing from home has made an emotional appeal for his return. Ruth Dinsmore says the disappearance of her husband, Kennedy, on Friday, is completely out of character. Mr Dinsmore, from Cotherstone,
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Car security tips for drivers
POLICE issued crime-fighting tips to motorists at Darlington's Halfords store at the weekend. Officers distributed advice on vehicle security and money-off vouchers on security equipment as part of Operation Outlaw. The scheme, co-ordinated by police
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Pensioners keep knitting to boost christmas shoebox appeal
ORGANISERS of a Christmas shoebox appeal are looking for help to deal with thousands of presents expected to flood into their depot. Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal, run by the Samaritans Purse International, started with the handing over of
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Pensioner in land wrangle
A PENSIONER who wants to buy a strip of land from the council says he is not being treated the same as his neighbours. Barry Price, 66, of Hutton Place, Newton Aycliffe, has been trying to buy land in front of his house for about five years. But he says
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Burning Questions
WHEN the Romans left these shores did they leave behind amphitheatres and aqueducts to be seen today? - W Sewell, Bishop Auckland. ROMAN amphitheatres were built all over Britain and the remains of at least a dozen can still be found. They are mostly
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Tragedy of doctor in 'mercy death' case
A DOCTOR cleared of murdering one of his patients in a landmark trial has died. Friends of Dr Dave Moor, 53, say he never fully recovered from the stress of the epic court case. Dr Moor sparked a nationwide euthanasia debate when he was cleared of the
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The Echo says...
IT IS not hard to see why the British public is becoming more and more cynical about politics and why voter apathy is on the increase. The new row stemming from Geoffrey Robinson's book will generate neither light nor heat - nor will it do anything to
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Regulars raise a glass to explorer
TOWNS and villages throughout "Captain Cook Country" are preparing to mark the 272nd anniversary of the birth of the area's most famous son. At the White Swan pub, in Stokesley, owner Brian Skipp and local people will be raising their glasses to the 18th
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Gallant win could spark
FOLLOWING Pat Eddery at Yarmouth this afternoon looks a sensible strategy because the 11- times former champion jockey has an impressive portfolio of rides. Pat's first chance comes aboard Gallant (2.20) in division two of the Ramworth Maiden Stakes.
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Northumbria University lecturers set for conference
THREE lecturers at the University of Northumbria will present a key session at a major retail industry conference to be held in Glasgow from November 1 to 3. The lecturers, from the University's School of the Built Environment, have been asked to facilitate
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Ex-beauty queen tells of phone sex
A FORMER beauty queen told how she sat by the telephone every night for five months waiting for a former football star to call her back after he had phone sex with her. Carolyn Pick, 36, said she was left "devastated and empty" after she was "dumped"
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Dentist denies fraudulent NHS claims
A DENTIST tricked the National Health Service out of thousands of pounds by claiming for work he had not done, a court heard yesterday. David Ratliff, 54, claimed money for gold fillings and expensive crowns when he used standard materials, it
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Teesdale Business Park proves to be popular for Terrace Hill
WHETHER you are standing outside its new office base at St Mark's Basin or on the edge of its development site at Teesdale Business Park, the achievements of the Terrace Hill Group, since establishing a Northern base for itself on Teesside some six years
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Letters
SMOKING IF A bus or car passes you belching out smoke, you can hold your breath until the air has cleared, saving your lungs damage. But if you inhale smoke then some damage might be caused. All animals subject to smoke will cough (including man) as nature
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Showcase chance for dancers
COMMUNITY dancers will share the stage with acclaimed professionals for a series of showcase performances. Dancers from Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Darlington and Newcastle are working with the professional performer and choreographer Laurie Booth, and
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Initiative to fight Internet crime
TIPS to avoid becoming a victim of Internet crime will be handed out in part of the region from today. The "safe surfing" advice comes in two leaflets launched to coincide with National Consumer Week. Durham County Council officials have acted following
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Unions anger at jobs vow
Post-graduates training to become secondary school teachers can now expect a £6,000-a-year wage, with an added "golden hello" of £4,000 in shortage subjects. The Government claims that applications for teacher training have gone up 50 per cent since the
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Hall hosts kite display
IT WAS up, up and away with an international flavour at a former stately home at the weekend. Expert Malcolm Goodman, right, known in hundreds of local schools as "Kiteman'' showed part of his global collection of kites at National Trust property, Ormesby
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Scott eyes up a plum role in murder mystery stage show
SCHOOLBOY Scott Brookes Gardiner is hoping to win a plum role in a stage version of murder mystery board game Cluedo. Scott, 12, of Oxclose, Washington, Wearside, will discover on Wednesday if he will play Professor Plum in the one-off performance in
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Parents invited to learn more about learning
PARENTS will go back to school this week to learn more about their children's schooling. Families from the Bishop Auckland area will receive a lesson in learning from staff at King James I Community College, to encourage them to take a more active role
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Elephant charge hero is honoured
A MAN who stepped into the path of a charging elephant to save the lives of his wife and two friends is to receive a top award. Steven Street's life hung by a thread after he was charged three times, trampled and butted by the enraged animal. The keen
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Call to speed up forest scheme
FARMERS and landowners are calling for improved financial support to speed up work on The Great North Forest. The project, the first to be launched in England, is celebrating its tenth anniversary, and 1,750 acres of woodland has been planted. The forest
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Store wins award for disabled recruitment
THE Northallerton branch of the Boyes department store chain has won an award to recognise its commitment to equal employment opportunities. Its award was given by RecruitAble, the region's leading recruitment consultancy, for the employment of disabled
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Church forced to remove stained glass
THEY are supposed to be the crowning glory of any church - testament to Christian faith in God. But one North-East diocese is now being forced to remove the stained glass windows from a church and store them in people's homes to save them from vandals
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NFL coaches pass on tips
TOP American football coaches will be visiting the North-East tomorrow. The coaches from the European version of the American National Football League (NFL) will be at Darlington's Eastbourne sports complex to pass on tips to young players. They include
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Escaped murderer hunted in North-East
POLICE hunting an escaped murderer are confident he will be caught. John Paul Mason, 37, absconded from Wealstun Open Prison, Wetherby, on Friday. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1988 for stabbing bachelor Frank Elesender to death in South Shields
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Grants pledged for green projects
NORTH Yorkshire is proving that where there's muck there's brass with £1m to be given to a string of projects thanks to the Landfill Tax. Yorventure has pledged the money for the coming year to benefit a wide range of environmental and educational projects
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Watchdog backs school bus decision
A COUNCIL'S decision to stop pupils travelling on a free school bus has been upheld by the Local Government Ombudsman. The investigation concluded that Durham County Council was correct in deciding that a group of youngsters were not eligible for free
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Restaurant raises £1,000 for charity
A cheque for £1,088 is being handed over to Macmillan Cancer Relief workers in Middlesbrough, tomorrow. Cleveland Tandoori owner Abid Hussain invited guests to his restaurant, and their donations, and the price of a meal from other diners, made up the
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Adoption appeal to couples
COUPLES on Teesside who want children are being urged to consider adopting a youngster. Jackie Ward, child placement team manager with Stockton Borough Council, said people should not sell themselves short when considering whether to adopt. She said:
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Families urged to see last performance
RESIDENTS are being urged not to miss the last curtain call of a Teesside show performed at the Greenwich Dome. More than 90 children and grown-ups took part in the Millennium song and dance tribute to Middlesbrough at the Dome. Now, the cast wants to
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Boost for hospice
A HOSPICE caring for terminally-ill children in the North-East has received a boost from local businesses. St Oswald's Jigsaw Appeal has been boosted by the announcement that Northern Rock bank, Jules B clothes and Fawdington BMW will hold a fundraising
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Firefighters pitch in to free horse
FIREFIGHTERS had to go to the rescue of a horse after it became stuck in a ditch, yesterday. Hose reels and ropes were used to pull the horse free of the ditch. The animal fell while cantering along a track behind the Beamish Mary pub, No Place, near
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Asbestos survey for public buildings
COUNCIL officials are setting up a £250,000 project to investigate the amount of asbestos in County Durham's public buildings. Durham County Council has set aside £100,000 to create a Corporate Asbestos Team with a £150,000 budget. The council's corporate
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New book tells history of famous railway line
FORMER walks correspondent for The Northern Echo, Charlie Emett, was kept busy signing copies of his latest book at the weekend. The Stockton and Darlington Railway - 175 years, provides a pictorial history of the famous line. Mr Emett, who used to be
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Fury at rail changes
A COMMUTERS' pressure group claims even station staff were kept in the dark about changes to rail services yesterday. Engineering work on the North-East rail network meant passengers boarded buses rather than trains at some stations. Services between
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Boy's mystery illness baffling consultants
DOCTORS around the world are baffled by a debilitating condition affecting Durham City teenager Scott Hall who fell ill following an accident playing football. The 14-year-old has suffered problems including epilepsy, paralysis, memory loss and partial
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Museum show drumming up support for art
A FESTIVAL of art which combined poetry with Japanese drumming has been hailed a success by council chiefs. The festival at the Timothy Hackworth Museum, in Shildon, was organised by Sedgefield Borough Council. It featured displays of poetry by youngsters
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'Praised' residential home faces closure
A residential home praised by inspectors is being forced to close due to lack of demand. Durham Aged Mineworkers' Homes Association has decided Merrick House, in Easington, east Durham, will shut on January 31 next year. The 12 residents and their families
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Cabbies see red over colour ruling
TAXI drivers in Darlington may consider court action to resolve a dispute about the colour of their vehicles. Earlier this year, Darlington Borough Council agreed to allow Hackney carriage drivers to advertise on the sides of their vehicles. But council
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Football academy plans get go-ahead
details of Sunderland AFC's proposed football academy have won planning approval. Club chairman Bob Murray welcomed Friday's decision of South Tyneside Council, which will allow work to begin next month. Environment Secretary John Prescott gave the £10m
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Garage blaze investigated
POLICE and fire officers have launched an investigation to establish the cause of a fire which wrecked business premises. A blaze early yesterday damaged a motor vehicle repair shop run by Malcolm Eastwood, destroying four cars inside the unit on Thornaby's
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Nurse wins tribunal fight over race bias
A RESIDENTIAL nurse who claimed he was the victim of racial discrimination has won his battle for justice. Mo Bhoobun has spoken of his relief after an industrial tribunal panel ruled he was unfairly dismissed and discriminated against because of the
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Club may fold after arsonists' attack
THUGS who have terrorised talented young tennis players into giving up their sport may have finished off a tennis club for good. Assaults, vandalism, thefts and abuse have haunted Bishop Auckland Tennis Club for the past three years. But, after a deliberate
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Head argues 'elitist' claim
A HEADTEACHER who sparked a row over elitism at Britain's top universities is to argue his point at the Oxford students' union. Dr Paul Kelley spoke out when pupil Laura Spence, 18, was rejected by Oxford University. The head of Monkseaton Community High
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Coach operators claim cost put before safety
COACH operators have accused local authorities of putting money ahead of safety in awarding contracts to take children to school. The claim comes after The Northern Echo launched a campaign to urge all councils to ensure school journeys are undertaken
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Rehashed political stew loses its flavour
THE memoirs of a Paymaster General - hardly a book to have the discerning reader languishing in the library or belting down to the bookshop. It's more likely to be an avid read for insomniacs, which poses real difficulties for an author wanting to market
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Pavement protest by disabled group
DISABLED campaigners have criticised the number of obstructions on Darlington's pavements. The Darlington Association on Disability group (DAD) says there are too many vehicles parked on pavements, causing a hazard to disabled pedestrians. It has written
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Ducks and aliens join forces
DUCKS and aliens were among the attractions at a fun day to celebrate a newly designated nature reserve in Darlington. Drinkfield Marsh played host to visitors on Saturday, when youngsters took part in Alien Quest, an adventure game involving teams of
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Pupils explore hardships of asylum seekers
YOUNGSTERS have been walking in the shoes of asylum seekers in an effort to understand the hardships they face. Five 14-year-olds from Middlesbrough schools visited the North of England Refugee Service, in the town's Borough Road, to take part in a workshop
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Pupils win national ski contest
A DURHAM school is celebrating after winning the English Schools Skiing Association Championships. Belmont Comprehensive School Ski Academy beat the country's top private schools to take the title at the competition in Derbyshire. The members of the team
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Youngsters weave their magic to put region on the map at dome
YOUNGSTERS from Redcar and Cleveland took centre stage at the Millennium Dome with a performance based on myths and legends from the area. The group of more than 60 young people, aged two to 17, have been rehearsing since the beginning of the summer in
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Three injured in crash at bridge
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a car crash near the Tyne Bridge, in Newcastle. Three men were hurt after a Ford Sierra crashed into a lamp-post on the A167 northbound Newcastle motorway, 300ft north of the bridge. All three had to be cut from
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Business Show award for lifetime achievement
TWO high-profile businessmen are in Teesside to address a prestigious business event. CBI director general Digby Jones will be the principal speaker at The Business Show, an event being backed by The Northern Echo. While he made his name as a lawyer in
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Shopping by bike idea may get boost
COUNCIL chiefs are to consider whether to expand a scheme which gives shoppers a chance to do their bit for the environment. Richmondshire District Council is looking into the possibility of offering a "bike hod" scheme, providing trailers to carry shopping
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Progress on £600,000 estate centre
A SHOWPIECE £600,000 resource centre set to open on a Durham City estate later this year will be called the Pelaw Centre. Residents of Sherburn Road estate were asked to put forward names for the facility in Haig Crescent. The centre will include meeting
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Drive to reduce cold-related deaths
SUNDERLAND City Council has launched a campaign to combat a hidden killer which claimed more than 200 lives on Wearside last year. The aim is to produce a coordinated approach to preventing cold-related deaths, which hit poor and vulnerable people. Health
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Pig farmers warned of £5,000 fines
PIG farmers could be fined up to £5,000 if they fail to register with the authorities. The warning comes from Durham County Council after a survey revealed 22 per cent of people keeping pigs in the county had not informed the Ministry of Agriculture,
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Transplant patients reassured
HEALTH officials last night moved to reassure North-East heart transplant patients following an inquiry into high death rates at a London hospital. On Saturday, Health Secretary Alan Milburn ordered an investigation after it was revealed that eight out
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£250,000 project planned to find asbestos in public buildings
COUNCIL bosses are setting up a £250,000 project to look into the extent of a potential asbestos timebomb lurking in County Durham's public buildings. Hundreds of the county's buildings were built using the killer fibre so Durham County Council has set
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70 people join ride for health
A SMALL army of cyclists used pedal power to get on track to a healthier lifestyle yesterday. More than 70 people took part in the 18-mile Ride for Health family bike ride, which took in the new Haswell to Hart cycle route, in County Durham. The route
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Campaign targets vice girls' customers
A POLICE chief has announced plans to wreck Christmas for kerb-crawlers. A police crackdown on Middlesbrough's red light areas, called Operation Duet, was launched at the weekend. The operation involves 16 officers, backed up by unmarked police vehicles
